With just a few scraps

I have many pieces of left over paper from layouts previously scrapped, and whether it was due to color or pattern or a combination of something, I couldn't bring myself to get rid of these sets of paper.   I pulled out some gorgeous turquoise and lime combination scraps I had for years (3 sheets of about 6x12) with some black and white cardstock scraps, and made some cards.  I have a bucket of "stuff" for cards - various stickers, rub ons, circles I die cutted 6+ years ago, etc.   In 2 hours while watching The Changeling dvd (thank you Sno-Isle Library, who I love more than Blockbuster), I made these 21 cards with some scraps, ink and "card parts."    

I have many more sets of paper scraps and can't wait to get to them this fall!   I have made it my goal to get all scrapbook-related items out of the den, so I need to finally use them.  My work is having a craft sale for a fundraiser so looks like I have a great motivation to get some more done (for our holiday families my company sponsors).  Win win!

Family humor

Some people make flowerly sweet layouts about how perfect their family is.  Some people write poems and compose sonnets about the beauty that is their children.  I like to laugh, and I like to laugh at myself (that has taken years to accomplish).  I think scrapping the humor in life is important - it isn't all sonnets and sunbursts and marble halls (had an Anne of Green Gables moment) so let's embrace the fun!  :)   I like to smile - it makes life more enjoyable. 

An old layout (is 2006 old?  I think in scrapbooking years it is considered old -but I still love this polka dot SEI paper!) from the Scraps Ahoy era.  I will stop short of framing this photo and adding it to the hallway.  :)

One bad thing about too many scrap supplies

With the push for companies to constantly come out with new product, it is sad to see the demise of too many companies that couldn't keep up with the market trend.   There are many I miss, the most recent being Scenic Route (you know you like a company when you have a special "folder" to keep their papers in).    Scrapworks had really awesome rub ons that came in these cute little tins, in awesome fonts and colors that applied like butter.  I wish I could still find those (and the alpha rub ons by Gin X as well).   I was reminded of the SW rub ons when I ran across this old layout.

If you ever find random tins of those rub ons, let me know!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

At least it is on my dining room table, where I've been making a lot of Christmas cards lately.    I love making cards, and Christmas cards definitely rate way up there.   Love this paper by Imaginisce - so easy to cut up to make quick cards.

Thriller...

I love that Michael Jackson song...  I used to get my popcorn popped, blanket ready and on the couch by 10:30 on Friday nights while growing up to watch Friday Fright Night on channel 5.  I love scary movies!  No one else in my family appreciated Alfred Hitchcock like I do, or found Vincent Price to be delightfully creepy.   It is sad that there aren't many good scary movies any more.  Any suggestions?

You know when you get a color stuck in your head?

I have been having a thing for Hawaiian Punch sugar free purple smash punch drink sticks lately (Walmart, 8 for a buck) and I just ran into the kitchen to make my "nightly beverage" before heading up to do our nightly ritual of an episode of 24 and reading.  :)    I'm lucky my hubby and I love the same shows (and that our local library has an extensive collection of tv shows on dvd to check out).  

So I'm feeling kinda purple and found a file of cards I did one month with a decidedly purple kit. Keep in mind these cards/projects were made years ago so they are "out of date" to some, but I still find myself gravitating to the same companies/styles over and over throughout the years.  I might not always pick out the same papers that others would put in a kit but they are certainly fun to open the box and go through the goodies therein. 

I'm thinking of joining a kit club for the simple fact that those boxes are so fun and inspirational, and am leaning towards a few at the moment.  Thinking I might ask for a couple samples for Christmas just to try them out.  Since I've purged so much of my stash, it feels good to know where my stuff is!    Trying to fit my paper into the formal dining room has been a challenge but I'm about ready to take some pics.  It's even decorated for fall.  :)   You know how the thought of taking photos and sharing them motivates you to complete that cleaning you've been putting off?  

Paper...

I'm craving some sunshine......


and some weekends working on some paper craftiness...maybe whipping up some card sets for holiday gifts?

Running into random layouts

I haven been purging and organizing my scrap space (aka the formal dining room) as of late to make it actually look like a dining room and not so much a craft explosion.   I decided to take a peek at where I had put some layouts that needed to be added to albums (they were awaiting in the entertainment center in the family room of course -  make sense?).  I can't believe how many class layouts I have that just need photos and journaling added - probably 50?   I should have fun going through pictures and picking out matches to get that many more layouts done and in albums.   Feels good to be able to use up what I have - and not to hate layouts I did in 2004, 2005, 2006....   I know I have a simple style but there is the upside to that - like a good Pendleton wool skirt, it will always feel like your classic style.   My mom was right about that one.  Now if my hips would agree to wearing pleated plaid kilts again....   

Pumpkin spice candle and a rainy day

Love the smell of pumpkin spice, love a fun Saturday with little to do, and love the 15 racks of drying salmon currently housed in my garage to prep for being smoked later tonight.   All I need now is a 24 oz iced Americano and some paper, and I'd be in heaven.  :)

Hubby is out meeting for the first time with a local flickr group, which is really cool and I'm so proud of him for testing it out!  Getting to be this "age" in our lives shows you how nice it is to make time for your hobbies - they definitely increase the happiness quotient.  :)

I'm off to a really awesome local scrapbook store in Lynnwood called Lasting Memories to get some Imaginisce paper.  They are having design team opportunities and I love their stuff.  Why not give it a whirl?

We are having card night (canasta), good pizza and salad finished with some toffee brownies.  I think I'll have time to show my fun sis in law how to make these paper bag books like the one I did three years ago (I'm sensing a common theme - most of my scrapping/crafting I've been posting was done three years ago, when I had the scanner hooked up.  :)   Time to take care of that as well!)

 

Feeling the fall crafty bug...

I love making decorated comp books - so fast, easy and fun, plus people really seem to like receiving them (so they are useful - double score).  I made this teacher-themed notebook complete with big paperclip bookmark for a craft auction at my work to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  This was made completely from the September kit at Hip 2 B Square in Snoqualmie (link on sidebar) - they have adorable kits!  This October Afternoon apple paper is calling my name....perfect for fall!

Wanna smile?

I am a big fan of American Idol and one of my faves ever was Jason Castro from season 7, not because he was the best singer but because he had such a fun happy personality.  He is a strong Christian and not afraid to share his thoughts, but does it in an unassuming way.  We had the fun opportunity to meet him randomly while on Spring Break in Los Angeles when he was on the show.  Aside from acting like a moron, it was one of my fave memories from our trip and to see that he was just as sweet and humble in person as he seemed on the show.

He is putting out his solo album soon and just released this video.  If you need a smile on this rainy Wednesday, check this out.  I hope he does well - it is neat to see someone doing something they love. 

http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/jason-castro/lets-just-fall-in-love-again--218594195

Living in Seattle...

My hubby has recently started taking photos, asking if I mind if he get into photography.  As a scrapbooker, I of course am all for this.   Above is an amazing shot he took last week of the Space Needle, and merged three imaged into one to combine the best of all.  I think it is stunning, almost like a painting.  Had to share!

Revisiting summer....peach tomato salsa

Living in Washington, we have a lot of opportunities to buy boxes full of peaches for a great cost.  I had a box of peaches, a big bowl of ripe tomatoes from my backyard and a desire to make homemade salsa.  It turned out great!

I cut up multiple types of tomatoes to get a variety of flavors (roma, sun sugar, stupice, juliette, jolly, celebrity) and just regular yellow peaches.  I used a mix purchased at Wally World and added minced garlic, walla walla onions, corn and lots of cilantro and lime juice.   Freezes well and so far I have gotten all thumbs up. 

Cards, cards, cards....

Adding some Halloween-type and fall cards...these are quite "old" (from 2006), but trying to add some of my ideas that I haven't posted before.  I taught card classes with my sister and used a lot of these ideas from those.

 

 

More fall cards...

Just adding some more older cards I did...getting in the mood for cinnamon apple cider, fires and cozy blankets.  :) 

Cards!

I love to make cards - all occasion, seasonal, whatever.    I'm going to post some of my favorites in an attempt to try to encourage myself to create more.  :) Feeling very fallish around here, so I think I'll post an oldie that fits that theme, and hopefully tomorrow will post some new creations.  We have curriculum night at Marissa's school tonight, so I look forward to hearing how she is doing. Shall I take a bribe of pumpkin bread?  :)

Getting it together...organization style.

We moved over 2 years ago at which time I consolidated my scrap area from an entire family room to the formal dining room.  I want my dining room to look like a dining room, so I try to arrange the supplies in the less obtrusive manner possible.  I taught classes for years so I accumulated a lot of supplies, many of which I have donated to my daughter's school or day care, to the Ronald McDonald house, etc.  There is still too much for the dining room, and I'm trying to figure out what I can "live without" while organizing the paper in a manner to make it easy to find what I need. 

On a happy note, I figured out a simple Christmas card and cut the papers for it this weekend, so now I just need to assemble and print out text for the inside.  After 2 years of barely sending out a minimum amount of cards, it feels good to get it together early for a change!   Since I'm not a scrapper that is determined to use the latest and greatest, and most of my friends/relatives don't know when a certain design of paper came out anyway (nor would they ever care!), I am finally using that KI Memories paper I bought in 2006 intending to use.  :)    I cut out 300 little trees and by golly, they will be used!   :)