Scrapbook Stores

Due to financial cut backs, I hadn't been able to go to any actual scrapbook stores. My favorite being Scattered Pictures in Portland, Oregon, I recently found that Nancy was closing her store. I was crushed, because just when I thought I could get back to going, I didnt have a "homebase".

So what to do? I started calling stores and found that only a few were still open, A Joy Forever in Clackamas, Oregon is where I was going to be headed. I have been wanting to get Bo Bunny's Barefoot and Bliss Collection, so I called, and they had it.

Yesterday I had a couple of hours to myself and headed over, its about 15 miles, but with heavy traffic, it takes a while. Anyhow, I arrived, walked in, and found my new "homebase".

They literally have everything that I wanted... I am in love, so for those of you that are in the Portland are, please stop by and see them. Paper galore, and not just the standard supplies, but they have almost all designers, and how its organized is perfect, by theme!!!!

I got my Barefoot and Bliss, and have been trying to work on a few beach layouts...

*note*... I have a injured tendon in my hand, and my hand is in a cast until Monday, but the pain is no more since having it stabilized... thank you Providence!!!



anyhow, if you have time, check our A Joy Forever, you will love it!!

Family Love!!!

I was noticing that this is a scrapbook blog, and I rarely post scrapbook pages, well that is going to change, more layouts. I am a crafty person, and for some reason this year, even though we are super broke, I am paying attention to the scrapbook, paper medium world again. I need to say, that it has nothing to do with the fact that my man got a job offer... woohoo!!! We are extremely thrilled that one of us found a wonderful job in this tough economy... ok, enough about that, its time to talk about Scrapbooking. :)

Christmas Layouts..

I sent my photos to snapfish the other day when they had that free offer.. I got them back and last night sat down for the first time in weeks to scrapbook. Holy Cow I had so much fun, when you haven't scrapbooked for a while, you can forget how it feels. Being back in school, mother to very busy toddler, and spouse to a wonderful man, it can be very easy to let the little things get backed up, and for me, its scrapbooking. But I made my first layout last night, and its done, but I might add a few little sometimes to it, to really make it pop out, or I might leave it. But it's very cute. I hope to get it scanned later today and share it with all of you.

Some of My Layouts..

If you look at my sons outfit there is a little snowman that I turned into a LO. I like to match things, especially when its fun and there is an added kick, I think my favorite part of the snowman is the lime green fiber that I used for his scarf.



There is no rule as to how many photos can be put on a page, I have done as many as 15 small ones to show a full sequence, but this time, four will do. This is our son, about a month old.. A true gem.




Do you ever fall in love with a color combination? For me, it was light purple and celery green. As you look through my blog, layouts, cards you will notice that celery green is my favorite color. This LO is of my Grannie holding her newest Great Grandson...

This is the first layout that I made for our son's scrapbook. He is about 26 weeks inutero and just the greatest joy. I hope to follow with the rest of his Sonogram photos that I got. But I was just super happy with this one.

My Crafty Stuff...

Some people think that you need thousands of dollars worth of stuff to scrapbook, and you dont. I always tell the newbies to go basic, and then as you get use to scrapbooking and finding your niche, then modify.

I started out with 8x10 albums, and didnt care for them after a while, and discovered 12 x 12 several years ago, and love them to this day. Then I went thru a period of only 8 x 8.. there are so many things that you can do on a sheet of paper of any size, it really doesnt matter. I still have the same basic tools that i started using 15 years ago, one of the newest that I added was the Cricut, I love my cricut, and use it almost daily. I dont spend hours on one page/layout, I just dont have the time, I like quick pages, and if all my pages look the same, then that is ok, there is no rule of thumb.

Basically I started with my album, some card stock for a background page, pretty papers that I found for which ever occasion i was working on, and embelishments. You can go simple, or you can go extravagent. Some pages I have spent litterally days on, I pull it out and work on it, or take it apart and start over. I still use glue sticks to glue my pages together, but have become a great fan of the PinPoint Roller Quickie Glue Pen. Oh and dont forget your photos. Cant forget those, as you progress you will add to your collection.

I scrapbook at my computer desk/craft table, and all around me is all of my supplies, I have a one year old who thinks pulling out paper is a fun thing to do... so I usually keep the first few pages just for him to pull out over and over...

Just remember when you are starting this or any hobby you are going to make mistakes, and that is ok, dont let any one tell you how to scrapbook.. these are your thoughts and your ideals of what you like.