Black and White Album -Part I February 3, 2009

One day I was shopping at a scrapbook store and came across a sample layout that jumped out at me.  It was done in black, cream and red papers with all black and white photos.  I have kept that vision in my head for quite some time.  I decided to complete one whole year as a seperate album.  I started buying little things here and there in preparation.  So after awhile I had a substantial stash and was ready to put it all together.  

This is the inside cover page: 

 

I enjoyed planning out the theme almost as much as I enjoyed creating the pages.  The process of imagining a layout or design and bringing it together is so fulfilling.  Here are a few more pages from the B&W album.

I think the contrast came out wrong on this photo, it’s supposed to be a dark red and black.  The background looks almost brown here.  that’s what I get for using my phone to take pictures.  hmmm…must get Photoshop…

 

Here are two of my rugrats on ice.  We spend so much time with hockey and I was grateful to get some outdoor pics without helmets and jerseys!!  Aren’t they cute?

 

This layout is one of my favorites.  It is unique for the following reasons:  I have a photo of all five us; I used a new-to-me technique (off center – I actually cut through the pictures *gasp*); and I painted on swirls with a stencil and a sponge.  Came out pretty good, don’cha-know.

 

Look for Part II  of this album coming soon…  Now that I can use my new camera I’ll be sure to have better images to show you. 

Happy crafting!

Amy

Tools, Tools, Tools… January 20, 2009

I have a new craft tool that I am in love with..

 

 

It is the Fiskars Premium Crafter’s Trimmer.  The perfect size to travel to crops with and the markings are clear and easy to read.  They have also mapped out the most common sizes like 5×7, 3×5, etc. to make it completely idiot proof.  Pick this one up asap!

 

I’m also coveting a new item…

 

Fiskars Border Punch – Upper Crest.

This classy little punch looks like it would fit perfectly with my style of scrapbooking.  I’ll be searching this one out at the local scrapbooking stores right away.  Although, it may be as elusive as the threading waters punch was when it first came out.

 

By the way, if you haven’t gone crazy over Fiskars tools head over to http://fiskateers.com/ and see what the fuss is all about.

a DECISIVE beginning January 16, 2009

I am taking liberties with my word of the year:  DECISIVE

I have decided it to also mean “take charge”, “can’t mess with me” and “I am right”.  This is my interpretation of “displaying no or little hesitation; resolute; determined” 

Since my New Years Resolution to become DECISIVE I am off to a good start.  My first plan of attack was my personal finances.  My husband and I have tried many ways over the years to tackle our bills and lately we have been splitting them down the middle.  Our incomes are almost the same now so it’s a lot easier.  But the drawback is  it was easy for me to lose track of the balances on things he took care of, out of sight-out of mind.  I have decided to rein it all in. 

I used to keep track on the computer with a budgeting template in excel (thank you free excel templates on microsoft.com).  But it was easy to hide in a file and forget about updating it.  I took charge and went to Office Depot and bought the old fashioned column pads  http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/930564/Office-Depot-Brand-Columnar-Pad-4/.  Writing everything down and putting it in my face on the desk everyday will keep me on track.   I am also cutting back on unnecessary purchases

like Caribou Coffee

and Einstein Bros bagels.

and potato chips..mmmm

 

and HBO

I know I can do it.  I have decided!

Santa came through for me January 5, 2009

Santa was a good boy this year and brought me a new Nikon Coolpix digitial camera.  Isn’t is pretty?  I love it!!  My last digital camera bit the big one about a year ago (see my woeful blog post http://birdsofafeather19.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/digital-camera-diaries/).  What is a scrapbooker and parent of rapidly growing children supposed to do without a camera??!!  Thank goodness for the jolly fellow who was tired of my whining. 

Now it’s time to buckle down and read the manual.  Or I could just continue snapping pics on the default setting.  It’s working for now.  Once I figure out how to download the photos I’ll be back in the scrapbooking saddle again.  Do you have this kind of camera?  Do you have any digital photo tips for me?  I can use all the help I can get!  Thanks and happy picture taking.

A different kind of scrapbooking December 22, 2008

Recently my father passed away and I ended up making some very difficult decsions.  Mostly funeral arrangements.   One of the things I knew he would have wanted was a memorial service that showed him as he really was; fun, full of life and a little on the mischievous side.  He alwasy said “don’t play that song How Great Thou Art.  Everyone I’ve ever known my whold life plays that at a funeral.  Play some Willie Nelson or Merle Haggard at mine.”  He loved to ride his Harley, he loved to hunt with his dog and he loved his grandchildren.  I knew that I would not be able to get up at a podium and properly convey how I felt so I decided to use my skills in scrapbooking to create picture boards of happy times in his life.  I know this is a very common practice these days, but I know my talents are more artistic expression, than verbal. 

While creating the boards I had to keep telling myself  “don’t look at the pictures”.  Because each time I did tears would come to my eyes and I was afraid of ruining them.  However, as  I kept working, I found myself smiling at some of the goofy pictures and marveling at the ones where he was a child.  So the process turned out to be therapeutic as well.  We did play Merle Haggard and we did have pictures of him on his Harley, too.  I’m glad I was able to fulfill his wishes and I will miss him every day…

(boards were laid out side to side on easels)

Twilight is here November 21, 2008

 

Being the crazy mom I am, I thought it would be fun to take my kids to see Twilight.  But not just any trip to the theatre, we went to the 12:01am showing last night (this morning???).  I ordered advance tickets online and the kids were so excited.  Well, the girls were.  My son decided not to go; that his beauty sleep was much more important.  So my girls and I left home at about 11pm on Thusday not knowing what was in store.  The thought crossed my mind that there might be only about ten people there  – visions of goth chics danced in my head.  But when we pulled into the parking lot it looked like the mall on the Saturday before Christmas!  Wow, I couldn’t believe the lines we had to stand in and we had already purchased our tickets!  TEN theaters full of Twilight fans filled the AMC last night.  It was the kind of night where people laughed out loud, ooh’ed and ahh’d at the cute boys and cheered when it was over.  Overall very enjoyable.  I’m anxious to read the series of books now that I’ve had a taste.  What a fun experience.  Now I’m going to take a nap….

Back to the regularly scheduled programming… Challenge with a RAK September 24, 2008

So, if you know me, you know that I have two out of three children involved in ice hockey.  We live and breathe hockey most days. 

In the summer the schedule seems to wind down a bit so we have multiple days in a row without having to drive to practice or a game.  It’s heaven!!  However, this week we start tryouts so we’re back to the regular chaos.  My husband and I try to divide and conquer but it means a lot of time seperated as a family.  With my impending craziness I have come up with a new challenge.  Being gone at dinner time most nights, I have decided to drag out the old crockpot so I can start meals before work and have them ready to eat when the kids and I get home.  We also hold several pasta parties throughout the year for our kids to ramp up on the carbs the night before a big game so that darn crock pot gets lots of use this time of year. 

The challenge:  Please share your favorite all-day in a crock pot recipe and I will choose a random winner.  The prize:  some fun kitchen related items that will be a surprise!!  Thanks for playing along.  My kids thank you from the bottom of their little stomachs!!

Scrapfest 08 September 10, 2008

I have been away from blogging for awhile.  Life gets so darn busy sometimes that I don’t take time for myself.  But now I am, and this weekend I will be also.  I will be attending Scrapfest 08 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN.

Never been to Scrapfest?!?  Well, if you are a crafter you shouldn’t miss it!  Take a look at the official site here http://www.scrapfest08.com/.  It is three days of make-n-takes, classes and crops.  Here’s a peek at some of the wonderful designers and artists that will be attending – http://www.scrapfest08.com/creative_experts.asp.  This year I will be attending the show on behalf of Fiskars and the Fiskateers.  I am a Cerftified Fiskars Demonstrator and have been asked to help demo Fiskars fabulous products on Saturday and Sunday, 9/13-9/14.  If you are attending please stop by and say hello.  I am so excited to be part of this fun event.  I was checking out the crop and class schedules and many of them are already booked solid!  If you can’t make it this year, save the date for 2009.  I’ll be sure to blog about my experiences at the “mega-mall” (as we Minnesotan’s affectionately call it).  And if you want to learn more about the Fiskateers click here http://fiskateers.com/

Button RAK Winner July 15, 2008

Thank you for taking a look at my new embellishment obsession.  I appreciate the entries into my little RAK.  I could never choose a winner by the quality of the projects because they are all great and creative.  So I chose randomly.  Actually, I asked Queen Bee to pick a number and she chose 4.  Then asked why.  Typical teenager – do first, ask later.  Anyway, lucky number 4 is Veronica!!  Please respond to the email I’ve sent you with your contact info.

Board Book – Completed June 26, 2008

My latest project is a Cloud9 Board Book.  It comes in a matching box with a handle.  I’m thinking about making these as Christmas gifts this year.  I completed this project last weekend at the Fiskars training in St. Paul.  I used Heidi Grace’s Midnight Kisses line throughout the book.

 

This is the front of the box.  I covered it with leftovers from the book and used a photo that I had enlarged to 5×7 then tinted sepia.  Then I just added a couple of ribbons on the handle.

 

Here is the front cover.  Nothing tricky here.  Just the black & white floral, shimmer glitter paper and some ribbon.  The back cover is covered the same way.

 

The inside cover.  Floral foil and shimmer papers used here.  New tools I used were the Fiskars Threading Water border punch and Corner Squeeze Punch – ticket corner.  (I had borrowed both of these tools when making the project and then went home and ordered them online.  Can’t wait for that shipment!)  I also added a little ruby bling on the tag and a couple of ribbons where the different papers meet.

 

I made this one very simple.  Not too many frills on this masculine page.  I used some of the Midnight Kisses rub-ons under the Happy Day stamp, but it doesn’t show very well on the black.

 

The rub-ons showed up much better on the white cardstock!  I used a ton of flowers.  The center of these flowers has a foam dot underneath for dimension.  I also accented a few spots with the signature hearts (basically raindots).

 

 

The swirly felt is from Queen & Co.  It comes by the yard and you can cut it to suit your needs.  You could also ink or paint it to add color.  I love it white, though.  I added some clear bling in the little swirls.  I think it’s a great accent for any page.  The felt is also self-adhesive.  This can be a little tricky when working with larger sections.  It will tend to stick together.  Tip – take the backing off in small sections as you place it on the page to avoid this.

 

Here I made another tag using the ticket corner squeeze punch.  The letters are Making Memories.  My youngest was flipping through and said “Ohhh, I get it now! Different branches!”  Like I always say, we don’t catch on quick, but we catch on.

 

The last page.  This is the same photo that is on the front of the box.  I layered papers here.  I love all of this Midnight Kisses line so I tried to get everything in this little book.  I used the Fiskars Round the Bend corner squeeze punch to round all the corners.  A few rub-ons, some bling and flowers finish it up.

 

What a fun project!  I’m hooked on these mini albums now.  I think, mostly due to the instant gratification.   If you see these cloud9 board books at your lss pick one up and give it a try.  I’d love to see what you’ve created.