Flutterinby Girl

Clearly I'm not a great blogger anymore, however

2010-01-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

The girls at TS are! Morag just updated our blog and it's simply lovely!

http://www.treasuredscrapbookingblog.blogspot.com/ is the address. We're working on it more and more each week, but I think it's pretty great already! I am so proud to be the owner of Treasured Scrapbooking now, and my DT girlies are amazing!

And now for some deep thoughts....

2009-10-24T21:45:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some thinking lately about the way I perceive myself versus how others might see me. It may come to a surprise to those who only know me as a loudmouth bubbly type of personality, but I have a severe lack of self confidence and belief in myself. I used to brim with self confidence mostly, and believe in myself much more than I do now. Maybe it's my weight, maybe it's turning thirty, maybe it's being around the gorgeous (and mostly sweet) coeds on campus, but I feel like my inner spirit is just bogged down by doubt. I am an actress at heart (really, I have done theat-uh), and I usually cover up my mental crap, but lately I have been struggling even with that.

Wednesday night I watched a lecture by an amazing artist, Luba Lukova (google her, see her work, love her). I was struck by how confident she is about the worth of her work. She knows that what she creates is important and thought provoking. She exudes confidence in her work, and that has to melt into the rest of her life. I found myself really thinking about myself and why I am struggling so hard to find that confidence in myself.

I thought about this past week and the many thoughts I've had.

I remember specific things:
feeling shattered after the critique in my painting class. I got a B and still felt like my talent is nonexistant.
talking about myself like I'm worthless, yet again.
questioning whether I can even do this thing called art.
looking at my sketches and thinking they are crap.
looking at myself and not seeing my spark anymore, just seeing this fat lady I barely recognize staring back at me.
feeling diminished and diminishing myself further by my thoughts and words.

And I realized I have to stop this. It isn't depression. It isn't artistic angst. I somehow shifted from someone who is self conscious about her weight and the age difference between me and the other students into someone who questions every thought and act and every THING about myself. I can't keep doing this, I'm becoming frozen in doubt and inaction.

Then just as I was realizing that it isn't outside influences doing this, that I'm doing it to myself, I started to wonder if people really see me as just the fat older person in class, or the harrassed looking mom in the grocery store, or if people can still see the spark in me. Maybe it's not completely lost, maybe it's just lost to me for right now. And when I started to think that as I was driving home from the store, I almost had to pull over, because I realized that my friends see that inner glow that I've misplaced. They see the funny person who makes them laugh and they enjoy being around. I'm not an annoyance or a burr in their sides. I am worthy of listening to, I have something to contribute.

Phew, this is hard to write. Not only have I been seeing myself through the warped perception of mass media and the idealization of physique that I just don't have, but I have been connecting my physical self to my self worth. I have been chipping away at my confidence in my abilities with my anger at my physicality. Yes, I am overweight and have been for several years. I am working on that. But I have always been a silly dorky kind and caring person with something to contribute and my size only changes that if I let it.

Tonight as I was thinking about all of this, I was on facebook, and my friend Sasha posted a link to this article:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/note.php?note_id=159853506105&id=25611803273&ref=nf

and it was a huge lightbulb moment for me. I'm not starting a photography business, and you can even discount my art stuff and graphic design intentions. Joyce Smith says, "Nevertheless, I knew the type of photographer I wanted to be and I carried myself as if I had already arrived. It was clear to me early on that I needed to come from a place of confidence." Erase "photographer" and insert "Erin" and you've got how I feel right now. I always joke with Ann about having a mantra, "I am worthy, I am smart, I have a cute nose." :) It continues on from there, but it's just silliness. But that is the idea. I need to remind myself that even when I feel like other people are derisive or laughing at what I have to say, so what, that doesn't mean it doesn't have value. If I say a painting makes me happy because the frenetic motion reminds me of leaves in the wind during the fall, then that's what the freaking painting makes me feel. If I say tone instead of contrast and you think that's funny and you need to snicker, well, that's just you, and yes it still bothers me almost a year later. BUT, my remarks are still valid, that's my emotional response to a piece of art. I'm not going to let snobbishness bother me anymore. So I don't have the vocabulary to explain myself all the time, big deal. I have the mental faculty and emotional depth and life experience that makes my thoughts valid.

Wooh, didn't mean to rant. What I mean to say is that I have rediscovered my inner artsy dorky happy goofy smart caring sensitive and not afraid to show it, proud to be thirty and have lived and who cares if I am not a party going crazy person, have a husband who loves me, kids who rock, friends are the best people in the world, silly book loving movie quoting self. And I think I might just like her.

Oh, and I'm buying Treasured Scrapbooking. Woot!

Here's $10 off at Shoebuy.com

2009-09-02T09:36:00.001-07:00

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Save on shoes, accessories, handbags and apparel at Shoebuy.com. We've got something for everyone and for a limited time, you can save $10 on that special something. Valid on purchase of $50 or more.

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Swallowed by Numbers

2009-08-05T21:16:00.001-07:00

As part of the design team at Treasured Scrapbooking, one thing I get to do is issue a challenge each month for all the members to try out. This month my challenge is to scrap about ourselves, but not just the fluffy happy stuff. I want people to dig a little deeper and scrap below the surface of what we usually show. It doesn't have to be dark or sad or disturbing, but just meatier than the "what's on my ipod" or "why I love the color pink" type of layout. Although now that I mention it, I want to do a layout about each of those. :)

Here is my layout. "Swallowed by Numbers"

You can click the layout to make it bigger and check some of the details. There are a lot of layers, and some handmade details (literally in the case of the finger/handprints). The title was inspired by a prompt at Guttergirlz, which was totally awesome and made me happy. www.guttergirlz.blogspot.com if you haven't check them out, do it NOW.

What a month! Sheesh!

2009-07-25T12:44:00.001-07:00

So things have been crazy for sure. We had a great time in Las Vegas, amazing shows, wonderful food, nice to relax and reconnect for our anniversary. The downside was that Brian got either avian or swine flu and was sick for a week after we got home. We had to send the kids to my mom's for several days so they wouldn't get sick, but they came home sick with something else, so it was basically two weeks of me taking care of sick people around the clock. I need a vacation to recover from that alone! Then I felt crappy for a couple of days, but not fully sick thank goodness.

Then we had a couple of regular days trying to get the house back in order (and playing WAY too much of a fun video game with Brian, lol). The house still isn't together. But that's pretty normal for us unfortunately.

And my internet wasn't working very well, I couldn't get blogger to load (or yahoo or msn or kohls or really any online retail stores, which made be suspicious that Brian was behind it all). Luckily it was an easy fix two weeks later by the techs, they just needed to switch our protocols, which I could have done over the phone if the phone support guys would have figured it out.

Then we had some sad news, Brian's grandfather passed away early Friday morning. He was quite elderly and had been in a decline for quite a while. It's very sad and I wish I could be up with Brian and his family helping, but it's best that I'm here with the kids so everyone is free to grieve as they need to. I've been sending telephone hugs though!

In a good note, I have finished up the latest class for Treasured Scrapbooking and it will be in the store when Leslie gets home from her trip to OBX.

And how cute is this blinkie????? From one of my favorite manufacturers. Sass and Prima have my heart as you probably already know!

$1000 Gift card giveaway!!??!!

2009-07-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I have just discovered that The Cuttlebug Spot is having a contest - "The Journey to 1,000"! They are trying to reach 1,000 followers by the end of July and need your help. To enter all you have to do is go to their site, sign up as follower and complete a few easy steps and you could win a $1,000 gift certificate to Custom Crops (www.CustomCrops.com)! GO NOW and check it out at www.TheCuttlebugSpot.com

I'll update soon with our trip to Vegas and all the craziness that's going on since our return. In short

Pros: Comfy bed with no kids' elbows in my spleen, Mystere, The Lion King, Penn & Teller, Enoteca San Marco, strawberry daquiris

Cons: SLOW service at Strip Steak, will NEVER eat there again, seriously it was bad. No skull mugs at the TI (out for the past month, I guess) and returning home with THE AVIAN FLU.

Just added some kits

2009-06-29T18:00:00.001-07:00

I added some kits to my kit blog. You can expect to see more. I'm cleaning out some of my stash.

http://www.flutterinbygirlkits.blogspot.com/

I have a terrible sunburn from my yard sale, but it was worth it! I got rid of so much stuff and made some money for my vacation, too!

I also scrapped last night if you can believe it!

It's hubby's birthday!

2009-06-25T12:45:00.001-07:00

And he's super cranky! LOL. I guess as we get a little older we no longer anticipate our birthdays with joy! :)

Happy Birthday, Brian!!!!

Also, check out the Rusty Pickle Amazing Race if you want to see some awesome scrap action. They post a clue, and the racers have to figure out where to go, then when they get there they have a scrappy challenge to finish by the next day! I have a couple of friends in the race, so cheer them on with me! Go Beth R. and Julie W.!!!!!!!

www.rustypickle.typepad.com is the blog address to follow the race along!

Guess who is back??????

2009-06-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many people still check here, and I have to apologize to everyone for dropping off the face of the planet, but school is just sometimes overwhelming when added on top of three kids, three cats, a zillion fish, a dog, and of course, trying to remain married! LOL.

Here's my latest layout, the first I've done in AGES.

Here are some of my projects from my art class, 2D Design.

I am also finishing up my next class that I'm teaching at Treasured Scrapbooking. Leslie, the store owner is a complete SAINT for being so patient with me!!!

Alexander graduated from preschool, he starts Kinder in the fall. Alora will be going to preschool in December when it starts. Rhiannon is hitting the third grade. She stole the show at her ballet recital, she's just so wonderful. She is also a yellow belt with black stripe in Aikido. Alexander has a white with black stripe. Brian passed his first test and is now 5th Kyu. Alora is learning some moves at home and has a pretty fierce little shiko (I probably spelled that wrong, sorry!). Alexander cut off all her hair a few weeks ago. I think I might finally be recovering from that.

I ended my first year back at school with another 4.0. My total GPA at OSU is 3.94, I have a 4.0 at LBCC, and my transfer is like a 3.12 or something. I don't have the brain power to pull that all into an overall, though. LOL. I also won a scholarship from the Art Department at OSU, which was so gratifying and amazing. I'm really looking forward to this next year, which is the intro to Graphic Design class, along with the portfolio and application process to actually be accepted into the program.

Brian and I are headed to Vegas for our seventh wedding anniversary in a couple weeks. I figure, seventh anniversary on the seventh day of the seventh month- triple 7s says VEGAS BABY!

I'm going to go caffeinate myself now! I hope you are having a wonderful Monday, and you can expect some heavy blogging from me over the summer!

Remember me?

2009-02-04T15:23:00.001-08:00

I'm still alive! I'm just swamped with school.

I do want to show a few things off. :)

First of all, I got a 4.0 last term, so my absences here have at least been fruitful other areas of my life.

The class kit at Treasured Scrapbooking ROCKS this month, here is what I did with it:

Here is one my projects for my Illustrator class. I had a lot of fun with this, but sheesh, I put at least 10-15 hours into it.

I was officially accepted into the Department of Art at OSU! So now I need to buckle down and get the core curriculum classes taken care of so I can apply for the Graphic Design program next fall! :)

Sorry I've been gone, and thanks to those of you who still checked in on me! :)

I am also taking a photography class this term, but it's film photography, so I need to get my scanner hooked back up so I can share.

Selling some kits!

2008-12-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

I started a new blog to sell some of my overflow!

http://flutterinbygirlkits.blogspot.com

Sheesh burgers!

2008-12-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

So much for being a better blogger. SOMEDAY I will be! :)

I have some excited news to share today! I was selected as one of the new Design Team Members at Dreamgirls!!! If you haven't before checked out this site, you really should, it's an awesome challenge blog! www.dreamgirls.typepad.com The new challenge is up today, and starting with the next challenge you will get to see my work on there too! How exciting!!!

I also got my class kit for TS in the mail over the weekend, and you are all going to LOVE it! It's a perpetual calendar kit, and has some yummy supplies, like wide chocolate brown satin ribbon, Kaiser Craft rhinestones and paint, Scenic Route chipboard, embroidery floss, and printable sheets designed by ME! :) Check it out at TS on Decmeber 5th to order, or you can PM Leslie on the boards to see about preordering it.

I have to go get ready for class now, it's my last week of the term and things are CRAZY busy, so wish me luck in staying caught up!

Don't miss out on the fun at Bad Girls!

2008-11-13T22:40:00.000-08:00

They are having an awesome Christmas workshop/crop/party!

A Quick Survey- please respond!!

2008-11-13T20:34:00.000-08:00

I am considering putting together some kits to sell on here. They would be some newer, some older products that I just don't have room for anymore. Good stuff, though! :) Some vintage pieces also, maybe. I am overloaded these days, and I'm trying to be better about it.
The kits would run around $15-$40 depending on the contents, I would share a content list and photos.

Let me know if you would be interested! Either leave a comment, or email me directly at flutterinby@peak.org to let me know!

ALSO, I've been toying with the idea of making some embellishments to sell on Etsy, lemme know what you think about that also!

By Popular Demand

2008-11-09T23:59:00.001-08:00

Or at least some demand. LOL. Cindi wanted me to share my other Art 120 project, so here it is!

I realized that I didn't have a photo from my wedding with my mom and dad both in it, so I took a photo of my dad walking me down the aisle, and photoshopped him out of that one and into this one!

I also want to at some point share the powerpoint from my speech on photojournalism and social commentary in photography. The photographs that I used are just so powerful to me! If I can figure out how to upload a powerpoint then I will share them soon, otherwise I'll add them individually. I hope to at some point take some photography classes.... maybe someday!

Bad blogger streak AGAIN!!!

2008-11-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

I'm trying, I really am! :)

I have two layouts to share today, and a project from my art class.

Treasured Scrapbooking November Kit #2 projects, I LOVE the papers and embellies in this kit, including Kaiser Crafts pearls, which are divinely gorgeous!

Here is my art class project. I took a photo of myself, and my mom took a pic of me holding an Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine, and I made it into a magazine with me on the cover using Photoshop! I had fun with this project, once I worked out the self inflicted kinks! :)

And this is just for some cuteness in our lives! She finally has enough hair for pigtails!

Of course, she also has strep throat right now, so.........

Crop Weekend!!

2008-10-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

As I already mentioned, there is a crop at Treasured Scrapbooking this weekend! Think Pink is the theme, and Leslie is taking donations for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Every $1 you donate will get you an entry for a wonderful pink prize! You can see the prizes in the crop forum at TS.

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION

I think that is probably my very favorite altered project that I've EVER EVER done! Leslie is also offering 30% off in the store during the crop, so you don't want to miss out on that! It even includes clearance items!

Scrapbook Heaven is also having a crop this weekend, the Freaky Friday crop, and here is the fun silly little sign that I made for the crop there.

Don't forget that Shannon has placed the kits on sale for 40% off right now!

If you are a new member to either site, please let them know that I sent you that way! :)

Have a great weekend!

I'm a BAD blogger!!!

2008-10-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

I have neglected this poor little blog and my faithful blog readers, and I'm SO SORRY!!! Life has gotten very busy for me! I'm back in school full time now, and keeping up with that and R's school life and activities, A's speech therapy, Alora's cuteness and troublemaking along with housework, and my dt stuff (aka creative salvation), phewwwww there's not much energy left after all of that.

There are two upcoming crops I must tell you about, and a fabulous sale.

Treasured Scrapbooking is having a Think Pink crop this weekend, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Over at Scrapbook Heaven there is a Freaky Friday crop this Friday from 6pm to Midnight, EST.

Also at Scrapbook Heaven, Shannon is having a HUGE sale! ALL kits are 40% off right now!!!! Don't miss out on that one!!

Here are my TS layouts for October!

I got eliminated from the Bad Girls contest, which was a bummer, but my friend Mireille is still in the running, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her!!! Michelle M was in the running, but she just was chosen to be a part of the JENNI BOWLIN team!!!! I'm so happy for her, she totally rocks!

I'm seriously sick right now, so I don't have enough brain power to share anything else right now. I'll try to be a better blogger!

ThTh- Organizing and a bunch of other stuff

2008-09-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

At Treasured Scrapbooking right now I'm hosting an Organize With Me challenge. We are going section by section through our scrapbook spaces, whether it's a room, a closet, or just a tote, and getting organized! If you play along with us, you will be entered for a FABULOUS RAK, I'm not sure exactly everything that's going in, but so far it is already over $40 retail, and still growing, so you won't want to miss out!

If you aren't already registered there, please do so, the site is AMAZING and the people are just wonderful, it's my scrappy home! http://www.treasuredscrapbooking.com/ and tell them that I sent you!

Also, I made it to week #2 in the Bad Girls Kits Top Designer contest, and I wanted to share my layout, it was a blast to make, I love the photo of Rhiannon, and the pattern in her dress is just perfect for the class on Using Patterned Paper!

Here is my design team work for Scrapbook Heaven! I am just in love with large pictures, and these are some of my favorite photos right now.

This one I did just because I love that photo soooooooo much and I wanted to do something soft and vintage inspired.
This is my monthly challenge for Treasured Scrapbooking- Paint Your Own Background Paper
TS September Sketch Example, love the elements by Tessa Ann Watte, if you don't already know her, go find her shop on Etsy, she's fantastic and sweet as can be!
Altered Frame made with TS Sept Kit. Love that Pink Paislee paper!
Another layout from the September kit at TS!
There's a crop right now at Scrapbook Heaven- http://www.scrapbookheavenga.com/, it's an end of summer camp, and there's PLENTY of time left to join in on the fun. If you join, tell them that Erin sent you, and be sure to complete my Sewing Challenge to earn your sewing badge! Here's my layout for the challenge- you have to sew somewhere on the page, and sew on at least one embellishment. :)

Have a great week!

Thth- Here I Go Again!

2008-09-11T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've entered another contest. Well, it IS a contest, because there's a rockin' huge prize at the end... but I'm not looking at it as a contest (yet, lol), because it's actually a series of classes on design principles. I'm super excited to hopefully learn some new things or pick up some fun tips. I've already seen a couple of things that I wouldn't have thought to do, like layering a photo over buttons (how genius is that, for ME queen of buttons???)!

This first week's class is all about layering, so of course, I am happy!

Here is my layout and some closeups:

You can find my layout, and those of the almost 300 other contestants at www.badgirlskits.com. It's a fun site, with a lot of members, that's for sure! I believe that Wendy, the store owner has a couple of other contests going right now too. Don't forget to check the message board for classes, you can read along, even if you didn't get registered for the contest! See ya there!

ThTh- No tips or techniques, just some shtuff.

2008-09-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

Here's some of my latest:

August TS kit plus embellies from all over, lol.

September TS kit:

Sketch Challenge for September at TS, enter your layout inspired by this sketch and you can win a prize pack or a gift certificate to the store!

Announcement: I am an asshat.

2008-09-01T02:20:00.000-07:00

I apologize to any sensitive blog readers, but, yes, I am officially an asshat. You might ask yourself, what in fact, IS said asshat? Well, it's someone whose head is so far up their afforementioned ass that they can in fact wear it as a hat.

An illustration:

This is an ass. (I have NO idea what the website in the link is, so I don't endorse visiting it, unless you're feeling adventuresome and have some good virus scanners).

This is a hat.

This is me. Yes, an asshat.

These images have been shamelessly stolen, which probably makes me a double asshat, but to find them, just do a google image search, but be sure to have some bleach handy to wash your eyes out with afterward.

So, why am I an asshat? Because I've neglected my blog and the fabulous people who faithfully read my weirdness for almost a month. My excuse? Home improvement hell. How can the people on Extreme Home Makeover build a house in a week, when it took me three weeks to do the floors and paint? Oh yeah, because they had HELP. LOL. 'Nuf said there.

So, I hope to be back here more, and not be such an ASShat. I love that word, in case you hadn't figured it out. It probably raised my reader age to PG-13, though!

So have a fabulous day, and try not to be a you know what.

thth- ugh!

2008-08-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

What a week! I am so sore I can barely move around. I've spent the whole week packing up crap, moving furniture and ripping out flooring, all in preparation for this weekend, when we will be installing laminate flooring, so even though I totally suck and I've been neglecting my fabulous blog readers, it's all for a good reason, I promise!!!!

Hopefully I will have some scrappiness to share next week, this week I just want to take a long hot bath and a big fat icy daquiri!!!

Such fun today!

2008-07-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

I'm having a blast at the cybercrop at TS, even though I've not had a ton of time to play.

Here's my challenge for the crop:

Requirements:

I would LOVE to see this project have a photo of you in it! I think we're all guilty of not documenting ourselves as much. It doesn't have to be only you, but put at least part of yourself in it!

Supplies:

Photo Frame- just the frame and the glass, save the backing for Michelle's Make n Take tomorrow!

Photo- 5x7 or larger, depending on your frame size

Patterned Papers
coordinating embellies

rub ons

strong adhesive- Zip Dry

glue dots

tape

ribbons and lace

stickles if you like

Directions:

This is all about playing around with your materials. You will need to CAREFULLY remove the glass from the frame, make sure it's clean, you will need to wipe off fingerprints as you go, also.

Wrap your frame with ribbon, and be sure to leave enough to hang it. I knotted mine in front (at the top where it hangs), but I would recommend knotting it in the back, because the way I did it is make the frame tip outward. I am also going to use some foam dots to stick mine to the wall for extra support.

Adhere your ribbon to the frame to keep it from slipping. The adhesive or tape will work best for this, adhere it on the backside. Since the backing has been removed from the frame, you will be able to see the wall through it, so decide where you want to hang it and you can coordinate to match the wall color if you would like.

Decide the placement of your photo and patterned papers. Then from there all I did was to go crazy with the embellies until I liked the look. I wanted a romantic feel, so I used a bunch of chipboard embellies from THE DOLLAR TREE! They had some great stuff there this time.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Here's mine:

See more details: http://www.treasuredscrapbooking.com/gallerypp/showphoto.php?photo=12035&cat=500

I just realized that I should take a photo of it where you can see the light shine through or something, so I might add another photo.

I can't wait to see what you all create!

________________________________

And today I took a digi basics class at the crop with Julie, who is awesome, patient, sweet, and talented!!!

You can do the class on your own time, here's the LINK.

Here's what I made during the class:

and the one I made later on this evening.

All of that, AND I went to the beach with the fam! Here's some of our fun today.

Thursday Theatrics- Fun today!

2008-07-24T14:05:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the official start to the Treasured Scrapbooking Cybercrop! If you like a good crop, great prizes and fun challenges, you should check it out for sure! Also, you have a few hours to get your entry in for the Treasured Hunt, with a grand prize worth $250!!!!

Here is a sneaky peek of my cybercrop challenge project.

I have had a lot of fun working on it! This peek has two of my new favorites in it, vintage or vintage feel flowers and vintage rhinestone buttons. I've been all romance-y lately. :)

The past week, birthday, zoo, and I've been tagged!

2008-07-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while, because I've been so busy!!! I'm finally getting the straggling ends of the college paper figured out and finished, which is good. There are just so many things that need to be done, it's a good thing that I'm not one to assume it's all done, because I've found about ten things in the last week that needed to be done that no one told me about. YUCK.

Alora turned two on Sunday. She's so fun and silly. We took her to the zoo on Saturday with Brian's mom, Marcia and Brad, and Brian's brother Jonathan and his girlfriend, Danielle. It was a lot of fun, and I got some great pictures.

Her present? A bunk bed to share with her big sister. She's learned how to jump out of her crib, so now she has a big girl bed to sleep in, and Rhiannon loves the top bunk. Alexander does too, so much that he decided the shelf looked like a good place to try to stand, and he ripped it out of the wall, leaving two HUGE holes for me to fix.

Here are some zoo pictures:

Pictures from Marcia's house and berry picking:

Alora's birthday pictures:

And I've been tagged!

1. Ten Years Ago- I was about to turn 19, I was on summer break from college, and I was working a lot.

2. Five Things on Today's To Do List- fold laundry, move printer over, figure out what to do with all of these papers, make doctor's appointment for Alora's well baby visit, pick up R and E from Brownie Day Camp.

3. Snacks I Enjoy- way too many. I just finished a bowl of cottage cheese with sunflower seeds and black olives.

4. Places I've Lived- Weaverville CA, Simi Valley CA, Moorpark CA, Redding CA, Anderson CA, Shingletown CA, Sandpoint ID, Warrenton OR, Seaside OR, Nehalem OR, Centralia WA, Monmouth OR, Dallas OR, Philomath OR, and maybe more.

5. Four People I'm Tagging- Wendy T, Annie, Traci, and Michelle

New Challenge Blog I found!

2008-07-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

I love challenge blogs, and I totally haven't taken part for AGES AND AGES. But today I found a new blog, and the deadline for the challenge was today, so I hauled keister and made this!

I know the lighting is not great, but I had this paper clipped to a white foam board, precariously balanced on my desk chair (that kept spinning slightly) and I was trying to get straight light, but it's hard to do in a CLOSET for pete's sake!

so please ignore the paper clip, desperate times, ya know!

I hand cut the "bling" word from the Prima Say It In Crystals (I'm trying to say it all in crystals, DAHLING) packaging. :) I also used a rockin' skull bling brad from Creative Imaginations for the dot to the i, but I'm not sure if you can see it clearly.

The challenge was all about JUNKIE, like what are you addicted to, show it using packaging and things, and there is a song (kind of irritatingly funny) about shoes, and one of the lines was, "Those shoes are mine bitch" or something like that, so I adapted that to my own usage. :)

The blog is www.guttergirlz.blogspot.com and I put a link on the sidebar to the right! :)

I hope no one is easily offended by vulgarity. I sure am not. If you mean it, say it! LOL. The more creative the better in my opinion, and my dad is the king of creativity, he can let out a swear strand that keeps going until he runs out of breath.

Here are the deets on my layout:

Yes, that is in fact my precious Prima bling on my face. I used the same bling to sort of bracket the photo. I <3> I love bling so much that I actually saved this tacky ass accoutrement to a pair of pants that i bought (the diamond dealie) and thought, HMMMMMM, I will totally use that on a layout someday. And I did.

This is evidence of a whole new level of stickles addiction, I used stickles because my glitter letters weren't quite sparkly enough for me. :)

googled-y smileys are my new owls, so there!
I will be adding more and better photos tomorrow hopefully, but I don't want to miss the deadline for this one!Here are the pics I used. This is just a small amount of my bling. Not even counting glitter and stickles.
FIERCE FACE ERIN. My hair looks good in this pic! :)

Partylite Anyone?

2008-07-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

I'm hitting up everyone I know, because I'm having a Partylite party at the end of the month, and I don't know how many local people are coming!

I'd love to have you come if you are close by, or if you want to order but can't attend, you can look at the catalog online and email me.
www.partylite.biz/kpage is the address! There is a nice special right now!

Special Offer for Guests at July Shows
Show Guests in July can save 60% on MiniTrumpet Jar Pairs, just $8! with each $35 purchase. Two sets featuring luscious fragrances in charming mini trumpet jars (not in any catalog).
With each $35 purchase.Piña Colada/WatermelonMango Tangerine/LemongrassLimit two sets per $35 purchase
Shows must be held July 1-31, 2008 and received and accepted by Aug. 3, 2008. Guests in attendance at July Shows can purchase up to two Mini Trumpet Jar Pairs for $8 each set with each $35 they spend. Hostesses are eligible to purchase up to two sets for $8 each when they have $250 in Show sales. Limit two sets per Hostess.

THTH- Do it for yourself

2008-07-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, be sure to do a layout about yourself FOR yourself. I did this one for a challenge at Just Scrappin' but I think I NEEDED to do it for myself. If you do a layout about yourself, please share it!

July Cocoa Daisy Kit

2008-07-09T17:01:00.001-07:00

Here are the layouts that I've done so far with the July Cocoa Daisy kit. It was designed by Ali Edwards, and I loved hers last year, and love this year's even more!

I'm also selling off a lot of my CTMH personal stash, if you're interested, you can email me or leave a comment. flutterinby@peak.org

thanks!

Six years ago today!

2008-07-07T17:09:00.001-07:00

I got married. :)

I think I'll keep him around a little longer.

Guess what time it is????

2008-07-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

That's right! It's time for the Treasured Hunt at Treasured Scrapbooking!!! For those of you who have been following my blog for a long time, you'll know this contest is what introduced me to TS and all the fabulousness there!

Here are the details:

It's here - our biggest contest of the year - The Treasured Hunt!

This will be a six week contest.

To enter, upload your very best layout into the Treasured Hunt gallery-Eligibility Entries category by 9pm (EST) Thursday July 24th. The Design Team will vote and the top 25 entries will move on to compete in the contest.

Following is the timeline of the contest:

Eligibility Round - deadline Thursday, July 24th - 9pm (EST)
Sun July 27th - 25 contestants announced
1st round Tues Jul 29 - 1st challenge announced
Sun Aug 3- deadline to upload entries (9pm EST)
2nd round Tue Aug 5 - announcement of 20 contestants moving on/2nd challenge posted
Sun Aug 10 - deadline to upload entries (9pm EST)
3rd round Tue Aug 12 - announcement of 15 contestants moving on/3rd challenge posted
Sun Aug 17 - deadline to upload entries (9pm EST)
4th round Tue Aug 19 - announcement of 10 contestants moving on/4th challenge posted
Sun Aug 24 - deadline to upload entries (9pm EST)
5th round Tue Aug 26 - announcement of 5 contestants moving on/5th challenge posted
Sun Aug 31 - deadline to upload entries (9pm EST) 6th round
Tue Sep 2- announcement of 3 contestants moving on/6th and final challenge posted
Sun Sep 7 - deadline to upload entries (9pm EST)
WINNER ANNOUNCED - on or before September 10

After the 25 contestants are chosen, weekly challenges will be posted on Tuesdays and entries must be posted in the appropriate challenge gallery by the following Sunday at 9pm (EST). Pages will be judged on photography, creativity, originality, relativity to challenge theme and overall design.

Winners for each round will be determined by the Design Team and myself.

Please pay close attention to the requirements of each challenge! Ask questions if you need clarification! Any deviation from the challenge requirements listed will result in disqualification. This is only to be fair to those who follow all of the requirements.

We ask that all entries be posted only to the Treasured Scrapbooking gallery until the end of the contest or elimination.

PRIZES!! (Now to the good part!)

GRAND PRIZE: Prize Package worth over $250 of scrapbooking supplies and a $50 gift certificate to the Treasured Scrapbooking store!!

2nd prize: $40 Treasured Scrapbooking Gift Certificate

3rd prize: $25 Treasured Scrapbooking Gift Certificate

All submissions must be original designs. Layouts submitted for any round of the contest (except the original eligibility entries) must be posted only in the TS gallery until the end of the contest or elimination and must not be published, posted or entered in any contest, in any magazine or on any website until the end of the contestant's participation in the contest.

Exception: layouts may be posted on your personal blog.

You must be an active member of TS to participate in the contest. Don't worry newbies...this doesn't eliminate you...as long as you actively participate in the forum/gallery once you join, you're good to go!!

I am very excited about this contest and can't wait to see all the awesome entries! Good Luck everyone!

*note: number of entrants moving on in any round may be adjusted due to number of entries.
_________________

Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this contest! I didn't win last year, but I did win the second chance contest, so that was awesome! :)

Also, we're having a Cybercrop at the end of the month, so check that out!!! July 25-27th, lots of challenges, games, and prizes will be happening!

Oops, three and a half hours late- THTH

2008-07-04T03:28:00.000-07:00

I just can't seem to sleep anymore! UGH. Actually, I'm fine once I fall asleep, I just can't seem to GET to sleep. AMBIEN TAKE ME AWAY. :)

Here are some layouts I did this week with my Treasured Scrapbooking kit that I was finally able to throw myself into!

Mary Poppins layout

with journaling open

Medieval Times layout

Here's the creative process, since a friend didn't believe that I don't preplan pages very often at all, I told her I just cut and glue, then slap it on a page and add some buttons, and glitter. :) She totally didn't believe me, so I did a breakdown of my layout for her.

"My Medieval Times layout started with just a title on a page and the photo picked out. Then I used a scrap of green Bazzill and tore the edge off, and hunted through my kit for embellies, then decided I wanted a subtitle, so I added that. Then I decided that just doing the whole thing on the polka dot paper was boring, so I cut the edge off and looked for a sheet of CS that looked good. Slapped the pp on the CS, then decided that was too plain, so I looked through my kit for a second pp, but I didn't want the whole strip, so I played around and folded one end, like that and did it to the other end, then I thought it needed something on it, so I added the year, then I thought it needed something else, so I stapled it, then I tucked it under the other pp. Then I looked at it and it still needed stuff, so I added some buttons. LOL. and the AC Thickers chipboard was in a kit from another site that I saw on the shelf, so I grabbed it and added it, and I remembered how someone on another site had asked if people mix brown with black ever, and I realized that's exactly what I had done. And then the layout was done. So there!"

My Besty BFF layout was completely inspired by Jaz in Singapore. I'm on the Design Team with her at Scrapbook Heaven and she's got this amazing drrrreamy collage style that makes my heart beat faster, so here is my variation on her fab-o theme!

Please be sure to visit her blog! http://www.jazmescrap.blogspot.com/

On a personal tangent, this week baby girl was sick, took her to the doctor and she has strep AGAIN. So, she's always sugar and sweetness (with a little spice so things don't get boring), but check out the pictures I got of her, while still sick and battling a fever. Because she's really that incredible.

OH, and remember if you are sharing a file to be careful what you name it. I was looking at a .pdf from LBCC, and it had one of my favorite file names ever. ASSOFART. Yes, anyway you look at that, it's pretty much awesome.

Oh again, my new favorite word is asshat. As in to be such an ***** insert word of your choice, I'll use idiot***** that your head is so far up, it's wearing your ass as a hat. :) That image just makes me intensely happy for no good reason.

OH, oh again again! If you have any good Chuck Norris jokes, please share them in the comments section, they are making me so very very happy this week.

My current favorite is:

Chuck Norris keeps a pillow under his gun. :)

July 1st Reveals- Treasured Scrapbooking, Scrapbook Heaven, and Secret Scrapper

2008-07-01T18:35:00.001-07:00

Treasured Scrapbooking Kit #2

Scrapbook Heaven Kit #1

and a Secret Scrapper mini album cover

Secret Scrapper July Scraplift from Scrapbook Play by Simple Scrapbooks magazine
and my take on it.

Hope you like everything! I'll have more to come in the next week, I have barely scratched the surface with my Treasured Scrapbooking kit, and I have TONS of my Scrapbook Heaven one left, too!

ThTh- The promised sneak peeks, an item on my wishlist, self portraits, an audition, and a really nice person

2008-06-26T14:36:00.001-07:00

How's that for a title?

Here is the aforementioned sneak peek for Scrapbook Heaven!

and Treasured Scrapbooking!

The store is back up at TS, and Leslie just added TONS of new product! YUMMY!

Here is the item on my wishlist, it's just so yummy and I want it! It's the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. I had thought I would want the f/1.8, but this is only about $200 more, and it's a MUCH better lens.

I'm going to have to save up for it, though.... after Disney our credit cards are smoking! Oops. LOL.

I'm hosting a Self Portrait Challenge at TS in the forums, just click on Say Cheese for the full details, but if you have a spare moment, get a self portrait and post it there for a chance to win a $5 GC to TS from ME! :)

Here are the self portrait examples I shared. Did some PSE 5.0 work on these, one just to black and white, and I added a Fresco filter to the other. I did these at like 1am the other night, because once again, I was having trouble sleeping.

On to the audition now. I know I have said that I'm cutting down to two DTs this fall for *gulp* when I go back to school, but Chatterbox announced a DT Audition, and I couldn't resist. I love their new lines especially Artsy.Licious. Come on, that name was MADE for me, it totally sounds like something I would say. I've been blog stalking them for a while, and that blog is totally in my language baby! A couple of times I thought to myself , "Hey self, did we write this?? This chick is totally speaking in our native tongue!" OMGosh, I am such a spazzy nerd!

And the really nice person is someone I have encountered before. She was the GDT at Cocoa Daisy the first month they were up and running, and she emailed back and forth with me then. She's also an Oregon girl like me, and creates some AMAZING stuff! You simply must check her blog, she's the sweetest thing, and I might just have a refreshed scrapcrush on her!

Tessa Ann Watte, I {heart} you today! Be sure to check out her blog, and she's loading some new goodness into her Etsy shop tonight, so check that out too.

I'm thinking of opening an Etsy shop of my own sometime, it's INTRIGUING.

Catch Up Post

2008-06-24T14:10:00.001-07:00

I am so behind in everything right now!

First of all- TreasuredScrapbooking reveal for the 15th:

A layout of my brother, isn't he good looking? (and single, ladies!)

and a quick card

I'll be sharing a sneak peek for July soon! The July kits are HOT!

Also, ScrapbookHeavenGa.com is having a Sketch Fest in July! I'll have some sneak peeks of my work there soon, also!

I had some horribly sad news this week, also, my bff guy friend from high school's mom passed away this week after a very long battle with cancer. I know she's released from her pain now, but I wish I could comfort BDC in person. He knows I love him, but sometimes a hug can go a long way.

Also, the flooding in Iowa is just horrible, and the amazing artist behind Story People, Brian Andreas has a special poster you can buy, it's $20 and the proceeds go to help the flood victims! Please go buy some, or if you can spare a couple of bucks, leave a comment with your email address and I can get you some info about a family that really needs your help!

Don't forget to visit the Treasured Scrapbooking blog and add it to your favorites! www.treasuredscrapbookingblog.blogspot.com is the address! And hop on over to TS to get added to the newsletter mailing list, this month's newsletter is just awesome!

Happy Tuesday and go hug someone you love!

I'm leaving on a jet plane.....

2008-06-11T12:42:00.000-07:00

I'll be back next week! Have a blast, and hey, hold down the fort while I'm gone!

I'm out yo.

My new haircut!!

2008-06-10T11:17:00.001-07:00

I promised pictures, and I was finally able to log in to blogspot today!!! Yea! I couldn't get to any blogspot sites for days!

Here are the photos I took of myself, just being a total dork. :)

I love my new "emo" bangs!!!

ThTh- Getting excited!

2008-06-05T12:07:00.000-07:00

I won't be here for my blog posting next week.... because I'll be here instead:

I am getting so excited!

We're planning to hit Disneyland and California Adventures, Knott's Berry Farm, Midieval Times, and maybe Universal Studios and Sea World... and maybe the San Diego Zoo, but I'm not sure. It's our first family vacation EVER! I think it's going to be a total blast!

Brian has been spoiling me lately. He bought me an
and a !

I love them both. The digi camcorder is just awesome, it's a Canon, and everyone knows I love Canon! Plus it uses the same battery as my Rebel, so now I have four batteries between the two things.

I hope you are gearing up for summer, and have fun plans ahead of you!!!

I'm sure I'll have lots of fun photos to share when I get back!

New Obsession, Thy Name is facebook

2008-06-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

Damn you dirty apes! You've gotten me hooked on facebook. It's totally fun, and I'm trying to figure it out!

So, what's your latest obsession?

New TS Blog Blinkie!

2008-06-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

Please add this to your blogs!

Treasured Scrapbooking Lovers UNITE!

2008-06-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

The Treasured Scrapbooking site is still down, but Leslie is working to get things figured out! Don't forget about us! We have started a blog in the meantime! www.treasuredscrapbookingblog.blogspot.com. Please check it out for all our updates! We will also be doing a main reveal there hopefully in the next day or so.

The June kits are just fabulous, here is what I’ve done so far:

If you would like to order a June kit, please email Leslie!

Leslie.Hammill@comcast.net

Check out the rest of the DT blogs and their artwork here:

JoEllyn Steele- http://www.scrappyphotog.blogspot.com/

Lisa Houpt- http://itsjustlisa.blogspot.com/

On a positive note, Rhiannon was having me open her new ear buds for her iPod, and she and I were complaining about the packaging.

"Was stuff easier to open back.... you know, when you were a baby?" she asked.

"What, you mean back in the old days?" I replied.

“Yes.” She giggled.

"Yeah, it was easier." I said.

"I guess the toy people got smarter about burglars,” was her reply.

ROFLMAO!!

THTH- only five days late!

2008-05-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Big news!!! I was accepted into the Design Team for Scrapbook Heaven! Check out the website at http://www.scrapbookheavenga.com/ to see the store and forums and gallery.

I wasn't planning to try for anymore DT spots, since I'm going back to school, but Sarah Edens convinced me that my style might be what they were looking for, so I went for it! Yea! I had to wait until today to share, though! :)

I also spent the ENTIRE weekend doing major home improvement projects! We finished our fence, finished our raised bed (including the hauling of 5 cubic yards of gravel and 5 cubic yards of dirt, and about 100+ cinderblocks, and over 80lbs of mortar over the last three weekends), planted a tree, mowed the yard, planted some plants, but still have more to do....... I'm wiped out today! So not much is getting done around my house this afternoon! :)

We also went to a Japanese restaurant on Saturday and ate at the teppanyaki grill. It was so fun to watch the food be cooked right at our table and see stuff flipping around. The chef tossed shrimp for Brian and the kids to catch in their mouths, and Princess R was the only one to catch one. I wish I would have had my camera with me!!!

Well, I have to get the kids ready for swim lessons in a minute, but for now, here's some photo fun.

Awesome news and {THTH} Photo Editing

2008-05-16T00:26:00.000-07:00

Awesome news is that I was chosen for the TS Design Team for another term!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some photos I was editing today.

Scrap-tastic Contest Layouts and a layout sharing explosion

2008-05-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting around to sharing! Ugh. I'm such a slacker right now. No energy, no time.... well, lots of time, but no energy to do anything with it but space out. :)

This is this week's:

And all the other yummies I've done lately!

I suck!

2008-05-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting my dear sweet blog lately! I promise to get in here and post all the artwork I've done lately and get some fun tips up!

for now here's something fun and addictive. Hamster tossing!

Flight of the Hamsters

Launch your hamsters and use glide power to fly as far as possible.

ThTh- TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRED!

2008-04-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

So I don't have a great blog post for today. I am just so tired out still from being sick. I took Rhiannon to ballet this afternoon, dropped off books that are sooooooo way beyond overdue at the library, shipped of a package of CTMH supplies for a new consultant, picked Rhiannon up from ballet, walked in the front door...............

to the fun fragrance of poo. Not the dog this time, but Alora. Fun.

Brian was home sick, so I left Alora and Alexander home with him (he said it was fine). Apparently she had a diaper one when he went and laid down in the BEDROOM and left them in the LIVING ROOM watching Dora (hmmm, not sure if I believe that part), and that he had just checked on them five minutes before (isn't that a really long time to leave a 21 month old troublemaker and her four year old troublemaking borther alone, but anyway...).

She crapped in the dining room. Yummy. Oh well, it's cleaned up now.

Can you tell I'm happy about that one? LOL. Alora is potty training, so these accidents will happen. And she did try to clean it up.... then she went and sat on my chair in the living room. And peed.

All of my couch and chair cushions have been peed on this week. that's a lot of cleaning. Oh well. I'll be fine. Really.

My online class was a hit!

2008-04-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Not only did we sell out and have to order more, but it looks like everyone had a great time yesterday!

You can check out the class here:

http://treasuredscrapbooking.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=60

And you can order your own album here:

http://myacrylicalbum.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=39&zenid=2661f9733c76e1f5fe000b330488ac26

Don't forget to check out the other fun albums they have. I've really enjoyed being on the design team there. Alas, May is my last month! :(

Here's the album itself:

ThTh- Aspirations

2008-04-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

So, I have been MIA all week, but that's only because I've been siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick all week. Yuckies. I'm feeling better today, and I'm pulling myself together at least long enough to blog.

I have some lofty scrappy aspirations. I want to be a "cool girl" in the scrapworld like Elsie Flannigan. I just feel like she must be so fun, and her life is so colorful and carefree. Somedays (probably because I've been sick and taking care of sick kids solo while Brian's on a work trip) life seems to be a little more trying than I have the energy for.

I aspire to become a better photographer. I aspire to do the kind of layouts where people go, "Wow, how did she come up with that?!"

I might apply for Memory Makers Masters. It's not too hard, five layouts, one original that must be previously unseen. I think I can do that. I would love to have that title, how cool, huh???!!!

I have one layout to share today, it's my entry for the Scrap-tastic American Idol contest for last week. I made it to the next round, too. I'm super excited about it. This layout was supposed to be our "album cover"- pretending we are actual rockstars. Or that the world has finally acknowledged that I'm a rockstar. :)

ThTh- Blog Challenges

2008-04-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

I have a list of Challenge Blogs that I sometimes check out, along with a bunch I havne't visited yet. I thought I would share the list in case you like to do challenges!

How Much Is Too Much
http://www.hmitm.blogspot.com

One Little Word
http://www.onelittleword.typepad.com

Effer Dares
http://www.efferdares.com

Journalers' Junction
http://www.journalersjunction.chindimples.com

Scrapjacked
http://www.scrapjacked.blogspot.com

Card Challenges
http://www.caardvarks.blogspot.com

All About Eve Challenges
http://allabouteve-challenges.blogspot.com/

ScrapDragons
http://www.thescrapdragons.blogspot.com/

Scrapping the Music challenge blog
http://www.scrappingthemusic.blogspot.com/

Scrappin kids
www.scrappinkids.blogspot.com

Kris's BOM Challenges
www.scrapwarrior.com/blog

The Sisterhood of Scrap
www.sisterhoodofscrap.com

Pencil Lines
http://www.pencillines.com/

Bringing It Back
http://bringingitbackchallenge.blogspot.com/

We Spy You Spy
http://ispychallenge.blogspot.com/
(this one is a photo challenge)

Everyday Garbage
http://www.everydaygarbage.typepad.com/

Scrapmojo
http://www.scrapmojo.blogspot.com/

Unpubbed
http://www.unpubbed.blogspot.com/
(scroll down to the bottom for the "rules")

The Design Experiment
http://thedesignx.blogspot.com/

http://scrapmusik.blogspot.com/

http://thisismejournal.blogspot.com/

http://categorystories.blogspot.com/

http://everydaygarbage.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://methodplayground.blogspot.com/

http://nzdares.blogspot.com/

http://thisismejournal.blogspot.com/

http://bananafrog.typepad.com/bananafrogblog/

http://www.mojoholder.typepad.com/

http://www.outtathisfunk.blogspot.com/

Also, it's official. I talk online too much! I hit 6000 posts at Treasured Scrapbooking today! yikes! :) Only two people there have more posts than I do, and I'm "fixin' ta catchum" before too long!

Here's something pretty to look at:

It's from one of my fave Etsy shops- TheBlackApple- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10914346

Here's a link to another favorite shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5079159

If you have not yet checked out Etsy, you really should, it's wicked fun. I might open a shop there someday, and sell some doodled watercolor-ish things. :)

Made it to week #6--- and a DT call to check out!

2008-04-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

I made it to week six at Scrap-tastic in the American Idol contest. Here's my layout from week #5- we had to do a two page layout with at least one medium or large circle that incorporated eight "dive demands". I love the pictures of me, I took them myself and they actually turned out!

Also, I'm sad to say that my DT term is drawing to a close at Treasured Scrapbooking, which means it's DT call time over there! Go check out the call in the forum. www.treasuredscrapbooking.com

Oh, and I got upgraded from an Alternate DT member to a full DT member at Secret Scrapper! I should have a blinkie soon. :) Although I don't think they've made the announcement there yet.... but they told me! :)

Live Chat with Amy Teets from Dream Street!

2008-04-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 12th at 2pm EST, 11am PST at Treasured Scrapbooking! Too cool!

She's a product designer for Dream Street, here are some of my faves of hers:

Check out her blog!

And here's a little bio to get to know her better...

My name is Amy and I'm a mother to two boys and wife to an active duty Marine! I found my love for scrapbooking shortly after having my first, and became addicted shortly after.
In December 2002 I started doing digital scrapbooking and soon found myself creating in Photoshop! I love to scrap both digitally and traditionally and I'm also an altering junkie! Nothing in my house is safe! My husband and I are both from small towns in Western Nebraska with the majority of our families still residing there.

Mark your calendars and plan on being there!! It should be pretty awesome.

We are looking into getting more scraplebrities to come chat with us at TS, so look for that in the future!

Well, I'm off to take care of my son who has pinkeye, we think. :( Poor baby.

ThTh- Birthday Party Crop at TS, busy-ness, and people I love.

2008-04-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend is going to be an AWESOME crop at Treasured Scrapbooking. It's the year birthday of Leslie buying the store, so we're going to party like rockstars and crop a little.... well, you know the song!

I have an exciting Make n Take planned that includes a download template and possibly puffy paint, so if those words excite you, please come check it out! I'll share it here tomorrow. We also have lots of other fun stuff going on all over the place including a GIANT sale, clearance is up to 70% off, other stuff is between 25 and 40% off!!!!!!!!!!! Crazy good times!

Busy-ness is the next topic.... I foresee my life filling with even more of it in the future. I know that as each child gets older we will add more activities and things, but I'm talking about busy times for me in particular. I've decided that I am most likely going back to school in the fall. YIKES. I applied for my FAFSA, which just made me feel weird, since the last time I did that was 10 years ago almost to the day. Oh well.... I just don't want to be the oldest person in all of my classes. Sheesh. I'm thinking if I can schedule all afternoon classes that won't interfer with our general schedule that much, I'll just need childcare for four or so hours in the afternoons. Mom said she'd do it for me. Hopefully it will all work out the easiest way for everyone!

People I love.

well, besides my family.

Cindi- if you don't know her, it's TOTALLY your loss, sorry. She's awesome, funny, generous, and a great baker (just don't tell anyone). She has one of the best Pampered Chef collections I've seen in an actual house, and her house is like zen for me. Plus it's clean. LOL.

Karen- BUT I MISS HER!!! It has been far too long since we've hung out, and I'm thinking of just randomly showing up on her doorstep and forcing her to take some time to chill out with me. She's also funny, and so very sarcastic that it makes me happy.

My online friends- Yes, I am that dork. I love the people I've met online through my scrapbooking voyages, they just rock out the inspiration and laughter. Thank you for being a friend.... traveled down the road and back again.... hee hee.

The Golden Girls- I used to love that show, then I was watching an episode the other day and they were doing all these stupid jokes about Blanche's brother being gay, and I thought, wow, I still love you girls, but I am so glad that I live in 2008 now!

Simon Cowell- beyond the fact that I find him to be hot, he's honest, and I appreciate that. I have personally called his comments pretty much dead on all season, except for the Blackbird song.... he was just wrong there.

Ellen Degeneres- Makes me laugh until I almost pee. Daily.

Hmmmmm..... Here are my inspo loves- Elsie, Karen Russell, Rouge de Garances, Hambly, Prima (I should just get "I Love PRima" tattooed on me somewhere), Anja Wade, random blogs (go up to the top and click on "next blog" but only if you have an hour to get sucked into the cyber world).

Oh, and I was tagged a while back to answer 7 random things, so here they are.

1. I have one tattoo, but might want more.

2. At 28 I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.

3. I not so secretly think that I'm not as good a mom as I should be, but I am fun.

4. I lack discipline in most areas, esp housecleaning and NOT buying scrap stuff.

5. I don't lie to my husband about anything.

6. Pink is my favorite color, but when I was about 7 until I was... gosh, 19??? I didn't like it very much at all, can you say TOMBOY? and yes, I typed tombow at first. lol.

7. I question my skills in scrapbooking a lot. I don't feel like I'm "as good as" a lot of people, but I am finally realizing that it doesn't matter, that I'm as good as I will be right now, and I do things my own way, and surprisingly a lot of people seem to like my way. :)

I'm not going to tag anyone back, because I think I've been tagged so many times it would be like 42 people or something crazy.

Go do something fun, like google a random weird word or something! Oh, and don't forget to CREATE something this week!

OOOOOHHHHHH, I almost forgot! Over at TS we are doing a LOAD (Lay Out A Day) contest this month, so try to get some done!

April Fool's Post

2008-04-01T20:54:00.000-07:00

Stupid title, but HEY, didn't I surprise you and trick you with the second post of the day??? Hmmm, probably not.

Here's some of what I've been up to lately. I have more to share on Thursday.

Treasured Scrapbooking DT work, make sure you check out the gallery over there, some HOT stuff from the DT this month!

My Week #4 entry for the American Idol contest at Scrap-tastic, I had fun gluing down all the buttons!

Stella and the Vet

2008-04-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

So, today was Stella's big girl dog vet visit, she got the rest of her shots, and was very well behaved. What I don't understand is why my dog prefers the vet's office to our house? I thought she liked it here, but she is just soooooo thrilled everytime we take her to the vet. She wiggles and whines and barks and jumps around and is just way too happy to get her shots and a thermometer stuck in her bum.

Is she weird or does she just like the attention? I'm not sure. What I do know is that even though we were told she'd probably be between 30 and 40 lbs, she's four months old and 26.6lbs as of today. Hmmmm, I think she might be a bigger dog than they said!

Luckily we sort of figured she would be.

Here she is, the rotten stinky pup herself about a week or so ago.

Friday ThTh.

2008-03-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Just got home from a fairly impromptu vacation to Las Vegas yesterday, and I was way too tired out to blog, sorry!!!

Here is the layout I did for my Scrap-tastic Week #3 entry. I made it to week #4, so I could still be the Scrap Idol. :) I added a lot of journaling for this one. The theme was to do a page based on E! True Hollywood Story on ourselves.

So this week while you're scrapping, why don't you do a page about yourself? What are the important events in your life that have made you who you are? Who are the important people who can't be forgotten?

ThTh- Telling the story is important too!

2008-03-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

I realize that pretty much all of my blogging is artwork centered, and maybe that's not the best way to do it. Most people visiting my blog might appreciate the layouts here, but without the story they are missing most of the story. I starting scrapbooking to be an archiver of our history, but I too often am guilty of not really telling the stories, just showing some pictures slapped together with gorgeous product. I need to tell the story more.

Like, how today is my best friend from high school's birthday, and I miss her so much. She lives in Hawaii (JEALOUS) and has a baby who is just gorgeous, with another baby on the way now. We were inseparable in high school, and I can credit her with me meeting my husband again after high school. That alone is worth a million to me. She's funny and kind and a talented singer, and she's turned into a wonderful nuturing mother.

BUT, the Tiana I think of is the silly one who went with me to meet the Rooter bus at 2am with Cary Bruton and we were yelling and screaming and Cary broke the horn on his rental car. Or the Tiana who would change for work while driving. Or the Tiana who drove me everywhere because I didn't get my license until right before I was 19. Or going to The Stand for lunch every day after Bagels by the Sea was overrun by the obnoxious preppy sophomores after they all got their licenses. GAG. Especially the Tiana who worked two jobs our senior year so she could throw her parents a second wedding to show them how much she loved them. Gosh, I miss your dad so much, Tiana. I loved him like a second father.

The story is about that, and it's about how wild and crazy and smart and goofy my kids are. Alora is 20 months old today, she's talking and thinking about using the potty, but all of her energy and silly and crazy is packed into this little tiny body that is just outgrowing her 12 month clothes. Our petite little princess stinker.

I share a lot of photos, but you can't translate your own love into the photos really. I mean, I can put love into taking the photos, and try to share them in a way that conveys the love, but it's never as big as what I feel for my family. How could it be? Nothing's that big.

Yes, my children exhaust me and some days I would like to duct tape them to the ceiling along with the puppy who pees and poops everywhere, but just when I think I can't take anymore one of them does something simple and small, like hold my hand, and I realize that I can't get too upset with them.... might still use the duct tape on the puppy, though. :)

Anyway, I don't know what the point of this blogging is, other than to say, I'll try to share more stories and not just layouts.

And I miss Tiana!

Scrap-Tastic Idol Week #2!

2008-03-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

I made it to round #2 (by default, since there were drop outs, lol), and here is my project for week #2. We had to use a song title from a list, I chose "Wild Side" and we had to use at least one star, some metal, and stamping.

This week's tip is a fun one- stamping on flowers! You can stamp on most scrapflowers. Paper are of course, the easiest, but silk ones work well too, but you should do a test before stamping directly on one that is already attached to your layout. You can see in my layout that the large prima flower is stamped on, I used a preinked 7gypsies stamp for this, they are just awesome!

Another tip is to mix it up with your title, use different alpha mediums or fonts to create a fun look!

I said I'd not do it again....

2008-03-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

and I fibbed! I've entered another "Last Man Standing" type of contest. It's at Scrap-tastic (www.scrap-tastic.com) and it's an American Idol contest. We're running the whole time AI is! YIKES, that's a commitment!

Here's the layout I did for the first week.

THTH- What I've been up to!

2008-03-06T10:39:00.001-08:00

I haven't shared much of my work lately, the bad blogger I've been, so here are some recent creations!

THTH- Two weeks in one!

2008-02-29T07:57:00.000-08:00

Ugh, I have been sick for two weeks, and besides me, one thing to suffer was my blog!

I was lucky enough to get to take a class with Karen Russell (of Narratives and HOF fame), and wow is she ever amazing! I love her! I'm going to share my class notes with you, and if you ever get the chance to take any classes from her, do it!

I have to preface this by saying, I am NOT a great photographer, and that fact was made even more evident to me by Karen's incredible artwork. Please check out her blog at http://www.karenrussell.typepad.com/ for her art, her tips, and her class schedule. If she's coming to a location near you, FIGHT for a spot in her class, she's awesome.

Here are a couple of bitty tips.

To be safe when downloading your photos from your camera, instead of using a USB, use a card reader. Most newer computers will have one built in, but if your computer doesn't have one, you can purchase one for about $15-25. This helps eliminate problems that can crop up if your USB fails or corrupts your files.

Also, after you download the photos and have checked that they are on your computer (and preferably in a second safe downloaded location like a CD or an online storage) you should reformat your memory card EVERYTIME you download photos to keep it in prime shape.

Just a quick tip that I thought was a great one, I didn't know about the reformating, so I'm doing that now each time I download.

Even if you have no idea how to use the settings on your camera, there are some basics for digital photography that are important to know.

Organize your photos on your computer. Organize however works for you, but KR recommends organizing by year, month, and occasion.

Don't save an edited photo with the same file name as the original photo, even if you are sure you like the edited on better. Everytime you edit the photo you degrade the quality a little. If you ever decide you don't like the edited version, you want to be able to go back to that high quality original. Save the edited photo with the tag "edited one" at the end of the file name. I use -1, -2, -3, etc in my computer.

Be sure to back up your photos, have them saved in at least two different sources, whether it is your hard drive and a second hard drive, a disc, or online.

PHOTO COMPOSITION

Composition- The arrangement of elements within a photo

Composition is as much about what you want to include in a photo as what you do NOT want to include. Scan the background of every shot for distractions, and move yourself however necessary to lessen the background noise.

Try to shoot the photo the way you want the final product to look, don't rely on photoshop for your photo to be great.

Most important tips:

1. Define your subject- define your story and decide which elements MAKE the story and what the supporting story elements are. Sometimes the story is the smile on your subject's face, but sometimes the story is the thing making your subject smile.

2. Simplicity- eliminate the background clutter, simplify your defined subject in the photo- you don't want to see your laundry, stroller, groceries in the background, unless they are part of your story. ***Change YOUR angle, do not make the subject move or change their position whenever possible.

3. Rule of Thirds Put your subject along a line, or even better, in right in the circle.

Wikipedia entry on Rule of Thirds

4. Mergers- objects "coming out" of your subject
Anytime lines merge with your subject's body it is BAD. LOL. Change your position or angle.
Example: Trees growing out of your subject's head, or lamp post antennae.

5. Framing
Elements in the background or foreground can be used to create a frame around your subject. If you pay attention, you can find some framing in almost any setting.

6. Balance

Find the balance between the subject/story and the surroundings and supporting elements

7. Leading Lines
Elements that lead the eye to the subject (straight lines, curved lines, physical elements of the surroundings). A common one is a brick wall, or a fence leading the eye to your subject.
Here's my example:

8. To Center or Not To Center
This is something you will have to decide for yourself. Art criticism says that an uncentered subject (or an uncentered main element to the subject) is more pleasing to the eye, but not everyone agrees, and the photos you take are for YOU, so you will have to decide.

9. Open Space
Open space is the "unused" space in the photo. General rule of thumb is that the subject, when angled, should be looking toward the open space, but remember that sometimes that rule should be broken. Sometimes the open space helps the story, sometimes the open space TELLS the story.

10. Active Space
When you have a moving subject the open space is called active space, and the subject should be able to move INTO the active space.

Example:

VERSUS:

Which do you think has more impact?

11. Orientation
The direction of your photo: Horizontal (landscape), Vertical (portrait), and Angled
Try to change it up when you are taking photos, you don't want to be putting together a layout and need a vertical photo only to find that you took all horizontal photos of your trip to the zoo!

12. Viewpoint/Angulation
Where the photographer is in relation to the subject.

Which brings me to your assignment!

Find a cooperative subject, even if it's an inanimate object. WithOUT your camera, walk around the subject to check out the angles and lighting, and whether your background is cluttered. Try to remember all the elements of composition you have learned. Then do the same thing WITH your camera in hand, and take a photo with every step. Look at how the photo changes with your personal position. Set your camera back down, this time walk around and change your personal ELEVATION to see how that changes your viewpoint. Pick your camera back up and take a photo at differing elevations. It's important to have some visual evidence of how your movement can change your photos.

Women do NOT look good from every angle, but do generally look better from above. Straight on angles are less flattering, slightly angle your subject, and putting something in front of potential problem spots can be helpful.

13. Fill the Frame with Subject and/or Story
Lose the extra crap! Sometimes you need to be close to capture the subject, sometimes you need to back up to capture the story.

14. Cropping

The more you crop in your editing software, the more you lose picture quality, because your resolution drops. Try to do your cropping with your actual photo taking. Generally you do not want to crop people off at joints when taking pictures, try to crop off just above or below a joint for a more natural look to your photo.

Stay tuned for more!

THTH- Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2008-02-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

And what a day! Phewwww, busy around here!

Here is a scraplift I did to show one of my fellow TS DT members how much we love her! Her layout is here:

The above layout is COPYRIGHT Sarah Edens.

Here is my lift. I hope I did her layout justice, it's just so awesome! She is a doodle master, and has been pubbed in a doodle book!

More digi goodness!

2008-02-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

So, I am sooooooooooo a novice in digi stuff, but I've been playing around with my Bamboo Fun and my Photoshop Elements 5.0. I think it's so much fun! I never thought I would like digi stuff, but I made my own paper! LOL. It's not great, but hey, it's mine!

ALSO!!! We are getting a puppy!!!! We are trying to adopt two sisters, Stella and Lizzie, but there are rules about getting two from the same litter because of pack mentality and things like that. Here are the little angels, aren't they cute??? We are definitely getting Stella (on the right) and we're hoping for Lizzie (on the left). Sorry the picture is so blurry, I didn't want to use the flash, and I focused on the blanket somehow. LOL. I guess it's a good thing I'm taking a photography class soon! :)

THTH- lazy me

2008-01-31T21:02:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been so lazy lately on my blog, I haven't updated much lately other than my weekly post, I need to be better about it!

Sooooooooooooo, I'm becoming interested in hybrid scrapping, some of the stuff is really neat-o. I don't think I'll ever be fully digital, but here is something that I made today, I've done a hybrid layout with it, but here is the digi part. I will add the layout tomorrow, it's dark out so I can't get a good picture right now. When I printed it out, my printer was a little wacky, so the colors are way off, but I like the way it turned out. All the digi elements are from Prima's new hybrid line which can be found at http://www.primahybrid.com/ and I love them! They are having a sale until February 4th, and you can follow along on the blog party they are having too. Some of the "Flower Girls" posted sketches and things on their blogs.

THTH- Don't be a Scrap Hoarder!

2008-01-24T17:45:00.001-08:00

Just don't do it! I know it's tempting, because it's all so pretty and fun to touch and pet and smell, but just STOP the HOARDING! Use that gorgeous product, use it as much as you want, and make yourself proud of what you have created with its deliciousness!

Here are a few things I've done lately, and the things that I used that I've been hoarding:

Things I used for "bundled up" that I hoard- ricrac, especially velvet ricrac, my new K&Co felt flowers that are just too YUM, and rub ons. We all know that not only am I a flower hoarder, but a flower WHORE, but I am trying to mend my ways. If I use it, I can buy more stuff!!!

Hoarding: flowers, bling, and chipboard letters!

Hoarding: My new Heidi Swapp chipboard flowers that I got for a STEAL on ebay.

Hoarding: Grungeboard, HS chipboard letters, 7gyspies adhesive ribbon stuff, lace, and rub ons. LOL. Really, I have been hoarding everything on here!!! Time to let go, and I love what I have to show for it now!

Aaaannnnnddd! I'll be posting my class project tomorrow. Class is tonight, and I'm going to be adding some my yummies to my project, I think. It's not quite embellished enough for my over-the-top-ness!

PS. If you love the term "Scrap Whore" let me know, I'm still thinking of designing some stuff with it. :)

ThTh- New artwork and a tip!

2008-01-17T10:17:00.001-08:00

Here are a few things I did with the Treasured Scrapbooking January Kits #1 and #2. I'm way into flower cutting and folding right now. I love that added dimension, and I love that you can really make your stash stretch that way. You can see I used the same flowers cut in half for the two layouts, then I just folded one flower in half for the card. Have fun with this week's tip!

My Acrylic Albums Project and some special info

2008-01-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

Here is my first project as a DT Member for http://www.myacrylicalbums.com/!

I used the January kit from Cocoa Daisy plus some paint and gems from Walmart and some misc fibers and other bling. I'm so excited, these albums are awesome!

Please take some time to check out the GRAND OPENING of MyAcrylicAlbums!! Here is some exciting info from the site:

Please take advantage of our SPECIAL CODE and receive 10% off of your entire order this weekend ONLY (coupon is good through 1/13/2008)
Enter this code during Check out: MAA-GRAND and receive 10% off of your entire order. Enter in our drawing for an ALL-NEW album being added to the cart next week (all new design) just by signing up for our newsletter. (To join our newsletter, simply click the log-in button at the top of the page and register for our site.)
We are constantly adding NEW and FANTASTIC products online. Be sure to join our mailing list to receive updates!
Our goal is to bring you top quality products and exceptional service at affordable prices. We are now accepting orders! If you have any questions please contact us at the following number: 208.783.0125 . Wholesale inquiries welcome!

They are also looking for three more Design Team members!

DT Call for MyAcrylicAlbum.com
What We Are Looking For 3 additional members:

Enthusiastic artists
Design originality & Style
Ability to use a variety of styles and use new and up-to-date techniques and include Acrylic items.
Ability to work within timelines and under pressureOur Expectations for our FABULOUS Design Team:

DT members will need to create, photograph and post a project using the Acrylic items that you receive each month by the 10th of the month on our company gallery. (DTers will have about 2 weeks to complete projects)

NOTE: You will use your own papers and embellishments on our acrylic base items, so you have maximum freedom. We may occasionally have sponsors for products to use with your acrylic items.

Post on Company BLOG, at least once a month, an article on something having to do with acrylic/altering – Including techniques, projects, etc. Or step by step instructions for customers.
Submit your product designs for publication (Magazines, ezines, contests, etc) at least 3 times a month and identify MyAcrylicAlbum.com as products used in your designs. Please CC DT@MyAcrylicAlbum.com with all submissions.

We ask that you place a banner ad link on your BLOG and in signature lines on scrapbooking message boards. Being active on message boards is very important. Banner ad and link will be provided.
We also ask that you post your finished products online in layout galleries of scrapbooking sites and identify MyAcrylicAlbum.com as products used in your designs. Please also let us know as a courtesy the galleries that you posted our albums on.
You agree to release the rights of your designs to MyAcrylicAlbums.com for display on the company website, forum, BLOG and in company materials and publications.
Must be 18 years of age or older and a resident of the US.
Great Communication with both the company owner AND DT Leader is mandatory.
A Four-month commitment starting February 1st – May 31st.
Email a photo and bio for our website if chosen as a DT Member.
DT members will receive 20% off of all orders from MyAcrylicAlbum.com.

How to Apply!
Send a Scrapbook/altering artist resume & biography, as well as name, email address, phone & full contact information with your submissions to DT@MyAcrylicAlbum.com.

Are you on Yahoo or AOL IM? Include username.
All pictures need to be clear, in .jpg format, and no larger than 500x500 Pixels… Include 2 of your favorite layouts and 2 altered items *Acrylic item not required… but, if you have one, it couldn’t hurt! LOL

You must also

Include a list of current design teams (not required to be on other teams) & scrapbook communities (forums, message boards) in which you are active in. Please include all links. You may also include an online gallery link if you have one.
Your Blog Address

Please include the answers to the following questions with your submission:
Why do you think you would make a great Design Team member?
How long have you been scrapbooking?
What is your best attribute or skill?
Name your TOP 5 scrapbooking paper companies.
What is the attribute or skill that is a challenge to you?
Share any other information you feel is important for us to know about you.

Submission Deadline: JANUARY 20th

DT Announced on January 23rd on our site.

First kit will be mailed on or about January 25th.

THTH- My New ScrapCrush- and good news!

2008-01-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

So, I have a crush. On these:

CROWN ACRYLIC ALBUMS! I'm totally in love with this product! You can find it at My Acrylic Album and they are just too cool! I have so many ideas in my head for this one! They measure 5x8 and include 6 pages and two rings. I think that in addition to be an awesome album, they would be a really neat element on a page.

Which leads me to my next bit of good news- they have added me to their Design Team! I'm way excited, can't wait to get my first package and start creating up a storm! I {heart} acrylic albums, and I love the shapes they have in the store. I'm thinking of doing a class for Valentine's with the "Love" album they sell. Let me know if you would be interested in attending! Or I can put a kit together and ship it if you aren't local!

I also found out yesterday that THREE of my layouts are being picked up for publication by Scrapbook News + Review! I'm super excited, I can't wait to see them! I am going to be featured in the Style Spotlight Section!

We Love Our Members Contest!

2008-01-06T19:33:00.001-08:00

Treasured Scrapbooking is having a big contest!

Here's the scoop:

It's time for another contest. For the month of February, TS is sponsoring the We Love Our Members Contest. This will be a 4 week contest....and no one will be eliminated! The first challenge will be issued on Friday, Feb. 1st. All subsequent challenges will be issued on Fridays. You will have until the following Thursday at 11:59 EST to upload your week's creation into the appropriate area of the gallery. The DT members and Leslie will then judge the creations on a 10 point scale. You will be judged in three categories- Creativity, Photography, and Overall Design/Appeal. Your individual category scores will be added up for a total weekly score. Scores for each round will not be revealed. Please pay close attention to the requirements of each challenge. Ask questions if you need clarification. Any deviation from the challenge requirements listed will result in disqualification. This is only to be fair to those who follow all of the requirements. All submissions must be original designs. Layouts submitted for any round of the contest must be posted only in the TS gallery until the end of the contest and must not be published, posted or entered in any contest, in any magazine or on any website until the end of the contestant's participation in the contest. Exception: layouts may be posted on your personal blog. As for the prizes...the participant with the most points at the end of the 4 weeks will be awarded a prize pack valued at over $100 as well as the April Guest Design Team position. There will also be a random prize drawing from all other participants. In order to be eligible to participate, you must have at least one layout uploaded into the TS gallery (you have to register separately for this from the MB) and a minimum of 50 posts on the MB by the start of the contest on Feb. 1st. If you have any questions, please let us know. Let's get this party started!!! And good luck!!!!

Trust me, as a past TS contest participant, you do NOT want to miss out on these contests, the inspiration from other participants alone is well worth it!

ThTh- TS Reveal- Symmetry Gone Wonky

2008-01-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

So, I don't do things symmetrically very often (mostly because I get overwhelmingly anal about it being perfect) but I thought it would be fun to do a layout that is -sort of- symmetrical, with a bit of wonkiness. So here is my layout!

Here is the sketch that I made for the layout. I had originally intended for the title to run down the side, but I just didn't like the way that looked, so I did it differently on my layout.

Also, it's the beginning of the month at Treasured Scrapbooking, so that mean CHALLENGES are new! My challenge this month can be found HERE, but basically it is to use some sparkly elements and to use something new whether it's a product or a technique. If you want to play along with the challenges, please register at TS (tell them I sent you) and you can be entered to win a gift certificate to the store! Each challenge you do gets you an entry, and you can earn points towards discounts in the store! Can't beat that!

Here is my example layout for the challenge. I used lots of rhinestones and my new technique is hand cutting using an exacto or craft knife! It was fun!

Here is a close up of some of the detail.

Thu-Thea- Christmas Aftermath

2007-12-27T10:57:00.001-08:00

Chaos, wrapping paper, boxes, toys abandoned for the next one.......... our house is in chaos and I haven't scrapped much in a week, so I don't have anything for today except some pictures! Sorry the one is sideways! I'm too lazy to fix it today!!

THuhTHuh- Photo Inspiration

2007-12-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

I have been checking out Flickr a bit lately, and I found lots of inspiration! So, I challenge you to go surf over there, find some photos that inspire you, and make something or go take some photos of your own! After all, photograpy is the main basis of this mad crazy hobby/passion of ours!

I got my new Canon Rebel in the mail, and I can't wait to share photos with you, BUT my memory card didn't come in the mail today, so I HAVE to wait..... so here are some pictures I have taken in the past months.

Thurs Theatrics- Product Review- Prima Paintables

2007-12-13T09:54:00.000-08:00

I just tried the new Prima Paintables, and they are awesome!!! I used watercolor pencils and a blending pen, and the paper is so great! It's watercolor paper and I love the patterns they designed!

Here is mine:

Please ignore the blocks in the corners of the paper in the first picture, the one downside is that since it's watercolor paper, it does warp a bit. It's easily remedied by flattening under a heavy book. I just love this product, and I can't wait to do more layouts with them!

books!

2007-12-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

I got this from Nancy's Blog!

Directions
Bold the ones you’ve read
italicize the ones you want to read
cross out the ones you won’t touch with a 10 foot pole

put a cross (+) in front of the ones on your book shelf
* the ones you’ve never heard of

1. +The Da Vinci Code .
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. +Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. +The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. +The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. +The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)*
11. +Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. +Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. +Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling))
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. +Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. +Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)*
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. +Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. +The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. +Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)

25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. +The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. +The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. + Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. +Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)*
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)*
38. +I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) *
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. +Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. +Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. +Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. +Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. +Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. +The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) *
60. The Time Traveler’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. +Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. +Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. +Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. +The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. +The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay) *
77.A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. +Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley) *
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)Have it, have not read it, one of DH's.
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields) *
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago) *
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)*
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Thursday Theatrics- Make Holiday Cheer!

2007-12-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

Since the holidays are approaching at a break neck pace, this week we will have a holiday decor project!

for complete instructions, check out the Cyber Crop! Lots of prizes to be won there!

Altered 7gypsies- Class Project

2007-12-04T16:42:00.001-08:00

Here is my class project for this month! How fun is this???

I bought everything at Treasured Scrapbooking.

Scenic Route Loveland papers are just too gorgeous not to use them! I hope my people like the class! If you would like to take a class, or have a class kit sent to you, just leave a comment or email me at flutterinby@peak.org and we can make arrangements for that to happen!

DT STUFF and OTHER STUFF!!!!!!!!!!

12 Days of Christmas Cyber Crop at Treasured Scrapbooking!

2007-12-03T16:34:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of the 12 Days of Christmas Cyber Crop over at Treasured Scrapbooking! Each day a new challenge, project, make and take or game will be posted! Also, Leslie is going to put something different on sale each day! Today it's the alterable items and they are 30% off! You can order things each day and have them shipped all together to save on shipping costs! Simply place your order the first day with "still shopping" in the comments box, and Leslie will hold your box until you are all done! Make sure you select "walk in" as the shipping option on the other orders, so you only pay the shipping fee once!

Don't forget the regular monthly challenges, too! They are always awesome!

Thursday Thickers Theatrics! One day late.

2007-11-30T12:54:00.001-08:00

My internet was down all day yesterday- GASP! Horror of horrors! I was going through withdrawals!

So, I went to the doctor yesterday about my arm and shoulder pain. I have Scrapper's Elbow!!!!!!!!!!!! Normally called tennis elbow, but as I have never played tennis (except on the Wii), I know what really caused it! I have to wear and arm band, and avoid any pinching motions with my hand- so, no scissors or cropadile with my right arm. Yikes! What will I do??? Guess it's time to become ambidextrous!

Here is today's Theatrics! Altering Thickers!

I love Thickers so very very much!

They are an incredibly versatile product! Not only do they come in a ZILLION different types- foam, felt, vinyl, chipboard, velvet- but they are also alterable!

Here are a couple of examples of how I have altered Thickers!

I have a third example of adding glitter to the top of them, esp the "sweater" thickers, but I can't get it to load right now! I will have to try again later!

If you leave a comment with a link to how YOU have altered Thickers, you will be entered to win a set of the new vinyl Thickers! Enter as many layouts as you would like, and I will do a random drawing. You can email me if you would prefer. flutterinby@peak.org.

Yummer yummer yummers!

2007-11-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

Luxe is doing a giveaway! I always like free stuff, especially free scrappy stuff, and most especially such DELISH free scrappy stuff!

http://blog.luxedesigns.com/livingtheluxelife/

CHECK IT OUT!

Thursday Theatrics! Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful day full of remembering what you are thankful for!!!!

And remember- you can never have too much Cool Whip!

Treasured Scrapbooking December Sneak Peek!

2007-11-21T16:47:00.000-08:00

Here are two tiny pieces of a layout I did using the December Kit #1 from Treasured Scrapbooking!

If you don't already have a subscription, you should check them out, they are great prices and full of new trendy fun product! If you do sign up for a subscription, make sure you put my name in the "Comments" box, pretty please with sugar on top! I love to hear that people have found new scrap happiness through me! :) YES, I am an enabler!

100th post- full of exciting news, too!

2007-11-19T18:48:00.001-08:00

Wow! 100 posts! So exciting!!!

I have some exciting news about Treasured Scrapbooking! We are having a HUGE 12 days of Christmas cybercrop! Starting Monday, December 3rd, head over to the forums and check out all the awesome challenges, games, and Make n Takes there! A new one will be posted each day, and check in often for little games and prizes! Leslie is amazing with her crop prizes, so I'm sure you will LOoooOOoove this crop!!!!!!

I will also be posting a sneak peek of my December DT projects tonight or tomorrow! So much fun!

Also........ shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone, but there might be a big Black Friday sale over at Treasured Scrapbooking, also! If you join the site forums and galleries (and don't forget the awesome store), make sure you tell them Erin sent you!

One incredible feature at TS is that if you participate on the boards and in the galleries and complete monthly challenges, you earn points toward DISCOUNTS that are good for an entire month! The person with the most points gets a 30% discount! Can't beat that!

Thursday Theatrics- 99th Post!

2007-11-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! I'm almost to 100!

My tip for today is on organization. Everyone likes to organize things differently, some like to see everything, some want everything hidden away. I like to see what I have, or at least be able to find everything quickly. I am building myself a new scrap space in my closet, and I'm getting adjustable shelves, which will hold most of my regularly used embellishments in easy to find ways- mini drawers, baskets, jars, bowls, etc.

Also, in my new scrap space (I will have pictures up soon, having technical difficulties putting up my shelves- UGH), I have 90 inches of desktop space! I am SOOOO excited, much better than my 15"x24" folding table! I'm going to have stations to work with- a stamping station and a regular work station. I got an awesome idea from Melanie, a fellow DT member at Treasured Scrapbooking, she mentioned that she has string and clothes pins hanging on her door for things to be displayed, or to hang while drying. I am SO stealing this idea! I absolutely love it!

Please share any storage tips you might have, I would love to see them!

Yea! Finally! So Excited!

2007-11-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

I made the Design Team at Treasured Scrapbooking!!!!!!!!!

I am freaking out excited! This is just way too cool! You MUST check the store out! As I have said on many an occasion, it's my fave regular online store, and the kits are awesome, too! So GO now, CHECK IT OUT!

I really am so excited to be chosen. I set a goal for myself this year to get on a DT for a store that I like, and I did it just in time! Woo hoozies! This really helped reaffirm that my work is improving all the time!

Thursday Theatrics- Sparkles and Bumps!

2007-11-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

So, I just got a huge order of Stickles and some Liquid Pearls in, and I LOVE THEM! I wanted to share a couple of projects using them that I think you will all like!

I used the flat back of a thumbtack to make the black glitter boarder around the biggest circle on the layout. I just pressed it into a line of glitter and lifted it from one side first. The liquid pearls are amazing!!!!! I am so excited about these products! I did the layout and card for challenges at Treasured Scrapbooking, the best scrap site I know!

Thursday Theatrics- GDT REVEAL!

2007-11-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

For my Theatrics today, I am revealing my projects for my Guest Secret Agent spot at Secret Scrapper! I will be posting more projects throughout the month over there, and also lots of challenges! Come play and check it out!

Guest Secret Agent at Secret Scrapper!

2007-10-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

My term as Secret Agent starts on Thursday, but I posted my first challenge today! If you want to play along, you should go check it out!

My Challenge

If you play along, you can upload to their gallery and be entered to win a prize at the end of the month, or you can just link back to my blog here and I can see your work that way!

Here's a bitty sneaky peeky at one of my projects this month!

And I got a cool blinkie!

Thursday Theatrics- Inspo roundup!

2007-10-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a little blah this week, scrappy blah and bloggy blah. Whener I feel like that I like to look around online for inspiration. Here's what I have found today!

Great album covers

Elsie Flannigan is a rock star!

How cute is this? You can find it on Etsy! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6619891

So, just look around you for inspiration if you are having a crappy day, never know what you'll find!

Most recent favorite layout

2007-10-19T22:14:00.001-07:00

So, even though my husband can be a big flaming butthead sometimes, I still love him to pieces.

I did this layout the other night when I couldn't sleep. 12x12 layouts usually take me about an hour, this one is half the size and took over two hours.... something's not right with that! LOL.

I used Bazzill CS in Hillary that is 6x12 scalloped. Love that
scalloped CS! I also use Scenic Route patterned paper, lace by the yard, a Waste Not Paper envelope, 7gypsies metal goodies, Fancy Pants stick pins, a Sassafrass Lass? clear stamp, 7gypsies tag, a coaster dealie, velvet ribbon, and MM clear alpha and funky vintage shapes. Almost all is from the Cocoa Daisy September kit.

Thursday Theatrics

2007-10-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

Use a new ANGLE!

Here is a layout I made with a big curve instead of all straight lines!

I used the new Luxe journaling goodies for this one! I love them! The patterned paper is all Cherry Arte.

Thursday Theatrics

2007-10-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

Make some funky flowers!!!!!!!

Make them from ribbon, buttons, stickers, paper, frills, whatever! Go into your stash, find something that makes you think of flowers, and make them!!!

What I did was use some GIANT buttons that I had and layered away!

Guest Design Team member!!!!!!

2007-10-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

I made it!!! After all the submissions, I have finally gotten a Guest Design Team spot! Secret Scrapper has chosen me to be their Secret Agent for November! I can't wait to see what I get to work with!!! I will show some sneak peeks as soon as I get the okay from the site!

I am so thrilled! I'm going to call my mom now!

Thursday Theatrics!

2007-10-04T13:35:00.001-07:00

Today my tip is something I've been doing myself this week!

When in doubt toss it out.... or sell it! LOL! So, I'm listing lots of things for sale online through various means. I thought, well, maybe I should post it to my blog too! This week is all about CTMH stuff, so here is the list!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make an offer if you see something you like! Prices do NOT include shipping. If there is something that you want, but don't see, just ask, I might have it! LOL! I will ship any orders paid for by Thursday afternoon on Friday, any orders after that will have to wait until Monday.

Reflections Binder with Programs I and III $30
Originals Program I $11
$37 if you buy ALL

Decorative Wire (barely used) $10

Laid Back Level 1- $8 NOW $7

Spring Blossom B&T (11 sheets, one of each color and pattern, except one blue) $3
Spring Harmony B&T $7

My Acrylix- all used unless marked, my name is stamped on some envelopes, Stazon cleaner will remove it, though

B1033 Blossom Blocks $6 NOW $5
B1211 Reminders $5 NEW

C- $13 each NOW $12
C1193 A Little Something
C1214 Harvest Wonders
C1197 Spooky Delights
C1166 You and Me
C1230 Speckled Eggs
C1224 Fluttering Frames
C1213 Punkin Carving

D- $15 each NOW $14
D1085 Happy Easter
D1098 Get-A-Way
D1082 Made By Me
D1114 Create-a-file
D1106 Designed For You
D1181 Autumn Splendor
D1218 Summertime NEW $12
D1210 Moments NEW $12

Business Builders- I think these are all new

W179 Supporting Kids $7 NOW $6
W180 Unit Meetings $7 NOW $6
W178 I Love Referrals $5 NOW $4

ADDING:
Outdoor Denim gingham- 8.5 yards $9

Sassy Strands
Summer Carnival $4.50
Spring Harmony- $4.50
Autumn Harvest- about 2/3, I think $3

My Accents Case (3) Used- $15
Eyelets Case- used- $15
Accessories Case- $10

email me if you want something! flutterinby@peak.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What sorts of things do YOU have laying around that you don't use or want anymore? My suggestion is to pay it forward, give a RAK, sell it, donate it, whatever you want. Make way for new stuff! You will feel so refreshed!

Last night's layout

2007-10-02T16:11:00.001-07:00

I don't know what this style is called, but I tried it! This is totally out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to try something new!

Look Hayden, You're FAMOUS!

2007-10-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

My dear rockstar Hayden, I know you were impressed with me being on the internet yesterday, so now it's your chance to be FAMOUS!!!!!!

Here you are:

I hope you enjoy your fame, and share this with all you friends, because you are WAY cool!

The announcement i teased about

2007-10-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

CHECK ME OUT!

Treasured Scrapbooking

I was asked to be the "Spotlight Member" and since I love the spotlight and attention, naturally I said yes!

My latest layouts

2007-10-01T17:01:00.001-07:00

I had fun with these, I hope you like them!

The first one is from the September sketch at Treasured Scrapbooking. You should check out the October Sketch, it's gorgeous!

Look what I got! LOL!

2007-09-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

I entered another contest! I know, you probably think I'm crazy, but it sounds like fun!

Holiday Card workshop is a GO!

2007-09-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

So, if you want to attend, leave a comment and let me know, or you can email me at flutterinby@peak.org!

I will post some sample cards soon!

Here's the knitty gritty details!

November 10th at 1pm, location given if you are interested!

$50 for 50 fully embellished cards with envelopes.

Split with a friend if you would like!

If you can't attend, but you want your cards, I can assemble them and mail them to you for an additional $5 plus postage.

We are going for a more freestyle and funky approach this year! There will still be traditional elements, and you can choose to keep yours traditional if you would like.

You will love these cards so much you might not want to send them!

Watch for pics of some card samples! They will be with a different paper than we will be using, and are for a general idea of the type of card.

Thursday Theatrics!

2007-09-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

I CHALLENGE YOU to do something WILD and CRAZY, dare I say it, INSANE on your next layout!

Here's what I did.... I BURNED my layout! Yes, you heard me right, I BURNED it! And if that wasn't enough, then I poured hot wax on it!

Here it is:

Today was an excellent mail day for me! I got my prize package for the Treasured Hunt second chance drawing!

Not bad for not even being the winner!

Also, I got my secret sister package from the fabulous Melissa! And I got two cybercrop prizes from TS! Love today! I also got some cool news about an upcoming excitement on Treasured Scrapbooking. Make sure you visit the site on October 1st!