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!!

Mothers Day Cards...

As usual, I wanted to make cards for every Mom I know, but that is just not realistic, so I made 9 cards, out of one 12x12 sheet of paper, and a few invitation size cards. Lemon/Butter yellow, and brick red. To go with my Paper Loft 12x12.

I love simple cards, especially for making more than a few. They can be different styles, just have the same theme.

Let it snow

This layout came out of know where, I was going thru my winter paper and found this snowman with orange flakes, thought it would go great with my sons blue hoodie.  I sprayed the snowflakes with glitter, hope to take a better photo to show the sparkle better...

It's a boy

This is a card that I have for sale on etsy... I love the colors.. Celery green is my favorite

Layout: Super Star Faces

Layout: Super Star Faces

Technique Tuesday

I am at the Portland Convention Center @ the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention... Having a blast...

Baby boy anouncements

My newest nephew was born last week, and I made his parents some baby cards... Live the colors

CK Portland Scrapbook Convention 2011

I got to go this year, and you know, I wasnt as impressed as I have been in years past... More kits than paper, more "stores" than actually companies. I was hoping to see more companies, and I didn't, it was vendors selling stuff that they bought at foreclosured scrapbook stores, or a giant swap meet. And some of the vendors were so rude. One stand, the cashier was also the pitch man for a "new" product. She had 20 people in line that wanted to pay, but she was pitching to one lady. I also said to the vendor... " if you ring all of us up, you will make the sale for one item you are trying to push"... but I didn't, I was just grateful to get the time alone to play at the show. There were a few companies there, SEI, Technique Tuesday, two of whom I love dearly and was glad to purchase from, but the wholesale people, if they arent crafty, how can they sell this stuff.. just because you read the directions and know how to use the product, doesn't really mean you KNOW how to use it to the fullest...

I get the whole, gotta make a living, but really people, you should be or try to scrapbook, before trying to sell me a product that I have no desire to buy.

Better luck next time CK...

Project Life Arrived

As a treat to myself, I ordered project life.  Upon opening my treasured white box, I already was swirling with ideas... Which way to use it, what photos, theme, etc.  so I decided on a weekly account of our lives...i tried ordering a month ago but they ran out so I had to wait a bit, so in the mean time I planned which pictures I would use, and started last night.  Pictures to follow...

Posting from my Android phone

I love this smart phone, and for a penny it has paid off, lol. I can blog, load up scrapbook layouts that I take a picture with my phone and not have to wait. 

Scrapbook Websites

I have a new love.. Technique Tuesday.. I am looking forward to meeting them at the up coming Scrapbook convention in Portland, Oregon. I will be posting photos. Have no fear!!

365 Project...

I must be crazy LOL For some reason I just signed up to ShutterCal, and they have a photo of the day for one year.. I am worried that I will get behind, but luckily they have a weekly reminder. I take photos all the time, but usually sporatically, not something daily, so I started this, and I hope Feb. 1st, 2012 I will have 365 photos to share with you.

here is my Calendar,let me know!!!

I hope you enjoy the photos that I will be posting, and please, let me know what you think...

Perfect Love...

This last summer, we were at a BBQ and Patrick was looking especially stylish in his cargo shorts and brown Hawaiian shirt... I wasnt expecting to take this photo, but it is a wonderful look at the love Grandparents and Grandchildren share... and notice, during his walk, he's barefoot, just like his Momma...

This is a Welsh Proverb that I have had since I was pregnant with Patrick... when I was growing up, next to my Mom, my Grandparents were the best part of my growing up. Doing Genealogy and going through countless photos, I see the love that I have for them, in Patricks eyes, when he looks at his Grandparents... Grammy, Nana and Papa

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. :)

Starbucks.... Patrick is taking orders

This is my son Patrick.. Christmas 2009, our cousin Jennifer asked him to come with her to her room, having not been around her more than twice, he went with her, willingly. She took him into her room and out he walked with his very own Starbuck Barista Apron.. what a site, I think I'm the only one on both sides that doesn't drink coffee... he was playing in Aunt Linda's kitchen cupboards, and found her Starbuck cup, very cute photos, and it took me a while to make this lay out, but so very glad that I waited.

CupCake Toppers......

Since discovering I have been messing around with making the toppers for cards.. here are two cards that I made for Valentines day using the cupcake toppers from Printablepartykits.com, I hope to post more as I printed out several items.

I am still working on my craft in taking photos of my completed works... sometimes they turn out great, other times they look like a train wreck. But alas, the point is made.

Craft Gossip

Yesterday I was playing with my phone, and I found a new app, I wanted something for reading news, etc, and I came across Pulse App, I down loaded it, and once you start messing with the settings it can really cut down on reading the news, reviews, blogs, etc, and one of the "set" websites for a search I did on Crafts, was Craft Gossip, I have to give two thumbs up to this website. They have something there for everyone.

I was looking through their website, and came across my first project, Printable Cupcake Toppers... well, I didnt see cupcake toppers, I saw circle punches for greeting cards... I hope to have time to make cards tonight for Valentines day and then get them posted.

And when I get some more black ink, Im going to print out the Animal Safari toppers that I found on the recommended site, which is http://www.printablepartykits.com I'm going to make a few scrapbook pages with these for my son's album, for his 2nd Birthday!!!

They have so much to offer a person.

Scrapbooking the Scrapbooker

I started out scrapbooking the things that I did and the places that I went and it filled my need. Now that I am a mother I spend my scrapbooking moments, working on layouts of my son and the things that he sees, does, experiences. I have gotten behind on his pages, approximately 8 months behind. I was sorting through all the photos today and came across my "old life".

The single life, the travels and journeys that I took in my younger wilder days. I know that eventually I will make my life's book, and pass it on to my son, what I am thinking though, is telling my story, for him. I have had quite the adventurous life, and now that he is here, the adventures are just expanding.

I have two photo boxes that are completely full of photos, and to be honest, I have no idea how I want to do it. It will be in a 8x8 book, I have a lot of photos but just want to minimize all the photos. One or two per page, and share the story, the moment, and possibly the dream or nightmare that followed. The friends that I have/had and their stories.. Life is a journey and I think I am going to try and scrapbook my journey. Not sure where I start, but as long as the dates are in order, I think that will be easy to organize.

I should probably tell my bf to go get my a refill ink cartridge for my printer, since my story is going to be long. LOL

Lets see if you work

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.