Shopping Our Stash #37- People Who Need People

  Whenever I want to make a coffee-themed card, I usually think of these decorative papers from Close To My Heart; I think I purchased them in 2005!  One of the things I enjoy most about Shopping Our Stash challenges is using my stash...from relatively new to really really old...but using it all the same.  The rust-colored twill came from my brown ribbon scraps jar.  I colored Stella with copic markers and I added glossy accents to her glasses, curlers, and the coffee lid.  I enjoy Stella...though this is about as snarky as I get :)

  The Stella image and sentiment are Bugaboo stamps.  I created this for this week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash:

Challenge #37:  People Who Need People

Use a human image

  Now it's your turn: search you stash for human images and link up at Shopping Our Stash #37!

Happy Tuesday!

Delightfully Sweet

   Isn't this little candy stamp the cutest?  It is from Hero Arts and the entire stamp set is included in the January Artful Delight card kit.  The Bazzill card stock ("papaya"), the Jillibean Soup craft card bases, the pretty patterned papers, and the white seam binding are all in the kit.   I stamped the candy twice on the patterned paper and fussy cut them out.  I glued one candy circle down then popped up one circle candy on top of it.  You can see it better here:

   The sentiment is from Studio G that I picked up in the dollar bin at Michael's.

  I cut the top note shapes and shadows using my Cricut "Accent Essentials" cartridge.

Happy Wednesday!

Progress on the de-clutter

Before picture:

(Trust me, it was worse than this looks)

Now I have 4 separate "piles":

#1  The girls' artwork from the past couple of school years.

I photograph each one, file it in a photo album, choose my favorite pieces to keep for eternity, then give the rest to the grandparents.  This is on my "to do" list for tomorrow.

#2  After taking lots of digital pics and throwing away my childhood treasures, I have reduced elementary-college memorabilia to these two boxes.  Once I start to scrapbook these things, I know I can get this down to one box.

#3  These are lots of things I wish to scrapbook:  the girls' school years, our family Christmas scrapbook, our vacation scrapbook, etc.  I'd better keep up my 2012 resolution to scrapbook more to dwindle this down, huh?

Now I will find a way to move these things back in my craft room.  I suppose I have my scrapbook work cut out for me :)

and #4  Sale box:

Please email me if you know anyone interested in these items.  Thanks!

1.  Pazzles Inspiration electric die cutting machine (PC compatible, not Mac) - $250

2.  For sale: Cosmo Cricket "Love Notes Collection" 12 x 12 - $9

3.  For sale: Lot of Dies and Embossing Stencils - $10

4.  Lot of chip board, tags, circles, & frames and 2 Accordion Album Tins - $10

5.  For sale: Lot of 2 Bazzill Basics Paper Inspiration Books -$10.

6.  For sale: Two Pooh Counted Cross Stitch Kits - $15

7.   For sale: SEI "Lovebirds Collection" 12 x 12 - $9

8.  For sale: K & Co. 6 x 6 album - $8

9.  For sale: Lot of 8 new QuicKutz Revolution Dies  - $50

10.  For sale: New Cuttlekids Shape Maker with 4 sets of dies and storage - $50

11.  For sale: Color Box Stylus Mold your own tip patterns - $15

12.  For sale: New Cricut Superman cartridge - $15

13.  For sale: New QuicKutz Spicy Chicken - $75

14.  For sale: Three retired Stampin' Up sets - $16

the junked up craft room phenomena

  Hello, bloggy friends!  I haven't been around lately because my dh & I are getting ready to put our house on the market in a few days.  We are hoping to move nearby and try to find a home with a little bit of yard for our children to play in.  Our home resides on .15 acres right now.  We don't need a larger home; that's just more to clean :)  Those of you that know me are aware that my home is usually very neat...and every two weeks it is clean too!  I periodically purge every drawer, cupboard, and closet throughout our home to stay ahead of clutter; we have very little closet storage in this house, which I think of as a blessing.  Space finds a way to get filled with non-essentials (which does not apply to paper crafting...hoard away, my friends!)  A year ago we even pulled up all the wall-to-wall carpeting and replaced it with hardwood and pergo.  18 months ago we upgraded the kitchen appliances and counter tops.  When we moved here 7 1/2 years ago we liked this house, but with all the upgrades, we truly love it.  If we could simply teleport this house to a nicer lot, we would do it.

   How does non-crafty stuff end up in my craft room?

  Last year when we re-did the floors, we decided to move my craft room from the teeny tiny baby bedroom upstairs to our basement.  I love it!  I wish I had done it sooner.  Now we are all always together; the girls have their toys in their part of the basement and dh has his computer and we have our big t.v. down here too.  As I unpacked my craft room I made an executive decision...all that *schtuff* we-don't-know-what-to-do-with-but-can't-seem-to-throw-away was NOT coming inside my craft room.

  I hope you are sitting down...put down that coffee; I don't want it coming out of your nose when you see this...

  I actually thought that I would slowly work through it, but an entire year has passed.  It was a pile of 17 boxes, but after my craft room purge last fall, it became 21 boxes pictured here.  This seems so intimidating.  My mom wants me to just move it to her basement for now, but I don't think that is a good solution; it just delays the inevitable.

  Where to start?
  Some of this stuff are my childhood toys that I loved and my girls have enjoyed too.  Can you spot the Fisher-Price Creative Coaster?  Or that white wooden giraffe hat rack?  My Mary Poppins plate?  These things have been well-loved and are truly falling apart beyond repair.  My dh & I are taking pictures of these beloved items so that I can scrapbook them later.  After we check to make sure the pictures look good, these will go in the trash.

  Wish me luck and quick decision-making :)

  For sale

  A few of the boxes added from the craft room purge are things I hope to sell.  If you know anyone who might want purchase the following items, please have them email me.  I priced these items below what I could find on ebay, but I will entertain any reasonable offers!  I will include the links so you can see pictures for each sale...shipping not included in sale price.

1.  Pazzles Inspiration electric die cutting machine (PC compatible, not Mac) - $250

2.  For sale: Cosmo Cricket "Love Notes Collection" 12 x 12 - $9

3.  For sale: Lot of Dies and Embossing Stencils - $10
SIZZIX-Texturz Plates Kit - Texture Plates feature double-sided patterns. 
SIZZIX Embosslits: Gift
Spellbinders Shapeabilities Die Set: Butterflies 


4.  Lot of chip board, tags, circles, & frames and 2 Accordion Album Tins - $10


5.  For sale: Lot of 2 Bazzill Basics Paper Inspiration Books -$10.

6.  For sale: Two Pooh Counted Cross Stitch Kits - $15

7.   For sale: SEI "Lovebirds Collection" 12 x 12 - $9

8.  For sale: K & Co. 6 x 6 album - $8

9.  For sale: Lot of 8 new QuicKutz Revolution Dies  - $50

10.  For sale: New Cuttlekids Shape Maker with 4 sets of dies and storage - $50

11.  For sale: Color Box Stylus Mold your own tip patterns - $15

12.  For sale: New Cricut Superman cartridge - $15

13.  For sale: New QuicKutz Spicy Chicken - $75

14.  For sale: Three retired Stampin' Up sets - $16

I hope your weekend is fun, happy, and productive!

You're My Love Story

  I created this card using products purchased from Shop Pumpkin Spice.  Pumpkin Spice is my favorite store!  I can always find *new* papers for 30% off (or more) and shipping is super low.  I hope you will check it out for your paper crafting needs. The papers I used are all from "Yours Truly" by Echo Park.  This is a great collection of papers; both elegant and fun.  My sentiment is by My Pink Stamper, "From the Heart." I added i-rock gems by Imaginisce.  You can find all of these products at Pumpkin Spice (links embedded.)

  This may be my valentine for my sweetie.  I stitched the patterned paper together using my sewing machine.  I usually find this many patterns overwhelming, but I actually think this works...it does look much better IRL, I promise :)

Supplies:
Cricut cartridge:  Wall Decor and More ("I [heart] U" cut @ 1 1/4")
sentiment:  My Pink Stamper "From the Heart"
papers:  Echo Park "Yours Truly"
gems:  Imaginisce i-rock
butterflies:  Sizzix Embosslits "Beautiful Wings"
hearts:  Stampin Up! punch

Happy Thursday!

My Pink Stamper- January challenge: Be My Valentine!

  I am so elated when I create a card using my scraps.  I eked this card out from bits of old KI Memories papers that I have already created several cards from over the past few years.  I think I am ready to toss the little bits that are left in the trash can...almost ;)

  My card was inspired by this month's My Pink Stamper challenge:

Be My Valentine!

Make something for Valentine's Day.  It can be a card, scrapbook page, home decor, a treat or mini album...anything goes!

  I found this winged heart on my Cricut "Winter Frolic" cartridge.  The cut is actually a border that I cut apart and layered one atop the other with foam tape for added dimension.  I embossed the wings with my Provo Craft "D'Vine Swirls" Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I doodled a heart and stamped the "XO" inside the heart.  I also stamped "hugs & kisses" at the bottom.   Both of these stamps are from one of my favorite My Pink Stamper stamp sets, "From the Heart":

  For more valentine inspiration, hop over to My Pink Stamper.  I'm on my way over there right now :)

Winter Blues challenge - Shopping Our Stash

  I created this shape & scene card for this week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  Here are the details:

 Shopping Our Stash #36 - Winter Blues 

 Shop your stash for items that are BLUE.  

You can have other colors, but make sure

 the primary focus is the color BLUE.

  My immediate thought was Echo Park "Winter Park" collection...so many winter blues in that pack of papers.  Then I remembered that my Campin' Critters cartridge has lots of cute winter cuts.  I flipped through the spiral notebook of images and decided upon the snow scene and the deer on skis.  I searched my sentiments and happened upon this one by My Pink Stamper "From the Heart" stamp set.

Supplies:

Cricut cartridge:  Campin' Critters

sentiment:  My Pink Stamper "From the Heart"

card stock:  Bazzill scrap (deer), Stampin' Up chocolate chip (deer) and whisper white (card base)

decorative papers:  Echo Park Winter Park 

                              "Snow Storm" and "Park City" (deer hat, backpack, and skis)

                              "Dark Blue/Light Blue" (both sides for mountains, tree bases, and lake water)

                              "Teal/Neutral" (both sides for trees and snow)

Now it is your turn...shop your stash for blue items and link your card, LO, or project at Shopping Our Stash #36.

Happy Tuesday!

Delightful Birthday & Amore

    What, no patterned paper?  This month's Artful Delight card kit has yummy patterned paper from My Mind's Eye "Kraft Funday" collection, Jillibean Soup "Hearty Barley" collection, and Studio Calico "Memoir" collection.

  I created the first card with the Bazzill "strawberry splash" and "kisses" card stock, the Jillibean Soup card
 base, the Creative Impressions red crepe ribbon, and the My Mind's Eye "Everyday Fun" rhinestones.

  For my second card I used the Hero Arts stamp (sentiment) from the kit and the My Mind's Eye "Everyday Fun" rhinestones.

  Both cards were made from images on the Cricut "French Manor" cartridge.

My mom borrowed this cartridge from me and she has had it for a few months.  I just got it back, so I was excited to use it :)

Happy Wednesday!

My Pink Stamper January blog hop WINNER

  Thank you all who stopped by my blog this past weekend to let me know what your goals for yourself are for 2012.  I enjoyed reading all of your responses.

  The winner of the My Pink Stamper "Even More Punny-licious" stamp set is:

 Shelly said...

What a great journal! It is so fabulous! I love your paper choice and I love the sentiments you chose. Awesome June!
The one thing I will do for myself is take a dance class. I've always wanted to and have never made the time.
Thanks, June!
Shelly

January 13, 2012 10:01 PM

  Shelly's blog is called "My Paper Love."  I hope you will stop by and leave her some love.

  Shelly, please email me with your home address and I will ship this to you.  Thank you for leaving such lovely comments and being one of the sweetest bloggers on the planet!  I hope you enjoy your stamp set.

Little One: Across the Border challenge

  My dh's little cousin just announced that she is having her first baby; a baby boy due in June.  I got my inspiration from this exciting news and this week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash:

"Across the Border"

  Use any border punch or create your own border.

  The decorative papers are by October Afternoon:  "Modern Homemaker" and "The Thrift Shop."  My sentiment stamp is My Pink Stamper "Sweet Baby."  The jumbo yellow brad is Making Memories, and the "onesie snaps"are i-rock pearls.  All other products are by Stampin' Up! (button, felt flower, ribbon, card stock, and decorative label punch.  The onesie was cut from Cricut "Everyday Pop-Up Cards" and the scallop border is from the "Accent Essentials" cartridge.

  Now it's your turn to shop your stash for a favorite (or neglected!) border punch...or create your own border from circles, rhombi, whatever your creative mind wishes to make.  Link your project at Shopping Our Stash challenge #35.

Happy Tuesday!

My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious Blog Hop: A fresh clean start

  Welcome to My Pink Stamper's January 2012 blog hop.  You should have arrived here from Kassidy's blog.  If not, start at the beginning on Robyn's blog, My Pink Stamper.

  Robyn's challenge this month at My Pink Stamper is "a fresh clean start."  Make something for yourself (or someone else) to welcome a fresh clean start to the new year.  It can be a card, LO, or project...anything goes!

  This truly was a challenge for me.  I had no idea what I would create.  You may recall I purged my craft room last fall.  I am pleased to say that it is still neat and organized, but I have lots and lots of projects that I would like to make time for.  One is scrapbooking more often, which I have worked on already this month...yay me!  Then I recalled that in 2010 I created a "I {heart} art"mini book where I created little pages just for me; doodles, stamping, whatever I wanted to do that day.  I really enjoyed making those pages; it was good for my soul.  Then it hit me!  In my projects stash I have a book I purchased years ago that I wanted to alter.  This would become my 2012 Art Journal.  I am so excited about this project; something just for me using what I love...my favorite color is red and I adore polka dots.  Add some ever-so-versatile My Pink Stamper stamps, and my title pages practically created themselves ;)

  

 This is the BEFORE picture (below):

  I covered the brick and red pages with this time-themed paper and cut out "2012 ART journal" using my Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge:

 

and added a few doodles to the "R":

   Then I added some My Pink Stamper sentiments in red ink:

 I drew doodles and stamped two more My Pink Stamper sentiments:

 All of my sentiments came from "Biggie Christmas."  The "for" came from the bottom left-hand corner;  the "Me" is actually the first two letters of the "Merry Christmas" stamp in the bottom right-hand corner:

  Your next stop is Chelle.  Before you go, please leave a comment letting me know what you will do for yourself this year.  You DO NOT have to follow me to win, but please come back on Tuesday, January 16th to claim your prize if you are chosen as my My Pink Stamper hop winner.  The prize:  My Pink Stamper "Even More Punny-licious" stamps.

Happy hopping!

January Card Kit Inspiration for Shop Pumpkin Spice: "Fun Love"

 Shop Pumpkin Spice, my go-to online store for my favorite paper crafting supplies now has a monthly card kit!  In addition to low prices and low shipping costs, the January card kit, "Fun Love"is only $15.95.  The January kit includes (2) 6x6 pads of My Mind's Eye papers (Kraft Funday & Love Me), white card stock, kraft card stock, buttons, doilies, twill, twine, crochet flowers, bingo cards, alpha stickers, and die cuts.  I created three cards from this kit and I still have oodles of paper and supplies to make loads more.  Grab yours now before they are sold out!

Here are my cards:

"Love Birds"

  This card is 100% from the kit!  The die cut frame, the alpha stickers, the papers, and card stock too.  I cut the birds and bird cage from the Cricut "Sophie" cartridge and added a few doodles to the birds.

"MINE"

  The My Mind's Eye papers, twill, and Jenni Bowlin bingo card are all from the kit.  The black card stock is from my scraps, and the cream card stock is from my stash.  I added faux stitching with my paper piercer and marker.

"Ticket"

  The ticket, My Mind's Eye patterned papers, the red heart button, and the twill are all included in the kit.  The dark brown card stock is from my stash.  The card base is kraft card stock, also from the kit.  This card was completely inspired by my DT sister, Abby.  I think of her as Fab Abby; love her!  Abby's card is much more enchanting.  Thank you, Abby, for giving me permission to CASE you.  *MWAH*

  Now go grab your January Shop Pumpkin Spice Card Kit!

A Delightful Party

  Leeanne of Artful Delight has created a marvelous kit this month!  Everything you see here is included in her January Artful Delight card kit.  Only the black card stock and the MFT scallop die are from my personal stash.  The stamp set (pinwheel and "party" sentiment), red seam binding,  button, My Mind's Eye papers, and the pink card stock are just a teeny tiny sampling of the goodness included.  The January Artful Delight card kit was sold out, but Leeanne purchased more product to put a few more kits together.  Get yours now while you still can!

I am also entering this at The Kraft Journal:  "Favorite Colors" challenge.  You know red is my favorite color.  I like the "pop" the red seam binding and red button add to this card.

Happy Wednesday!

Back to Black challenge: City Crafter Challenge blog

 (*For the ShopPumpkinSpice blog hop click HERE*)
  (*second post today; scroll down for weekly SOS post*)

  Kirsty Vittetoe has graciously asked me to be a guest designer this week at City Crafter Challenge blog (CCCB).  My jaw literally was on the floor when I received her invite.  I have admired Kirsty's work for nearly two years as well as ALL of the members of her CCCB design team.  Seriously, if I ever met Cheryl, Ros, Linda R., or Kirsty in real life I would likely act like a star struck teenager.  These ladies are some of my favorite paper crafting idols.  That pretty much sums up my elation at being a part of their team for the week of July 10, 2012 :)

  The challenge this week is "Back to Black":  create a card or project with a silhouette; the image may be stamped, digital, or die cut, but must be black.

  I created two cards for this challenge, and I stamped in black for both (I know, you are shocked that I didn't just use my Cricut, aren't you?)

 For this sympathy card I stamped and embossed the daisies on Graphic 45 "Butterfly Kisses" from the Once Upon a Springtime collection.  Both stamps are by Stampin' Up!  I added hot rocks by Imaginisce under the sentiment and on top of the black velour daisy trim.

  For my shoe card I stamped and embossed the shoe ("My Sentiments Exactly!" stamp) on black card stock.  I fussy cut it out and popped it up with foam tape.  I cut my nested circles using my Cricut "Accent Essentials" cartridge.  My papers are "Modern Homemaker" by October Afternoon that I purchased from Kirsty's Pixie Dust Paperie shop last Spring.


  Please stop by City Crafter Challenge blog for more silhouette inspiration, link up your creation, or to just say "hi!"


Happy Tuesday!

All that glitters, sparkles, or shines...shop YOUR stash!

(*For the ShopPumpkinSpice blog hop click HERE*)

  I created this card for this week's Shopping Our Stash challenge #34:  All that glitters, sparkles, or shines OR Dilli Beans image.  I dug up these papers from The Paper Company Studio "Hugs & Kisses" collection from February 2010.  Each of the papers are pearlized and have a pretty sheen.  I printed out the Dilli Beans digi stamp (#330 Hanging Hearts Snowman) on kraft card stock and colored with my colored pencils.  I used a border punch and "pink sorbet" twine from The Twinery below the image, then popped the panel up with foam tape.  Link up your shiny creation at Shopping Our Stash #34.


  I am also entering this at The Kraft Journal:  "Favorite Colors" challenge.  You know red is my favorite color and I adore polka dots, so I made red polka dots on my krafty snowman.

Happy Tuesday!

Artful Delight + Sketch Inspiration = Prizes for you!

  (*For the ShopPumpkinSpice blog hop click HERE*)

  Artful Delight is this week's sponsor at Sketch Inspiration.  What is up for grabs?  The January Artful Delight kit and some other goodies.  (Check out all of the details at the Artful Delight blog.)

  Check out this terrific sketch #302:

 I used my January Artful Delight kit and here is my take on the sketch:

  The Jillibean Soup kraft card base (and envelope), the Bazzill card stock (red), the My Mind's Eye designer papers, and the felt flowers/button embellishment are all included in the January kit!  Please hop on over to see more inspiration here:

Abby
Debbie
Julie
Kelly
Artful Delight blog

Happy hopping!  When you link your project, be sure to tag it with #302.  Good luck!  I hope you win.  One can never own too many paper crafting goodies :)

Surfing LO - Surfer's Healing for children with Autism

  Another LO!  I was going through my blue basket on my work desk (the "quick fix" basket and catch-all) and I came across the girls' surfing photos from last summer.  I decided to look in my kits for a LO that would work with the surfer's bright orange.  I did not find a kit, but I did find a card stock sheet of images to cut and use on a LO.

  This was our first time attending a Surfer's Healing camp.  It was an amazing experience!  This is s FREE therapy for children with Autism.  We only saw one other girl while we were there, and more than 100 boys.  They provided lunch for every family.  I hope we can attend again next summer.  These surfers are well trained in working with these very special children.

  Every child gets two rides, but Kathryn's surfer "Ki" (spelling? rhymes with eye) took her out three times.  He fell in love with her.  Each time she was screaming, "Mommy" on the way in (she can't stand to have her eyes wet), but when they were out waiting to catch a wave she told Ki that "I'm really good at this.  I'm gonna be a surfer when I grow up."  She cracks me up.  I love Kathryn-isms.

This scrapbooking thing is becoming an addiction...

The Kraft Journal & Artful Delight monthly sketch

  Would you like a chance to win an Artful Delight kit?  Just make a card or LO and follow Abby's sketch:

Here is my take on the sketch using the January Artful Delight card kit:

  Link your creation to the right-hand side bar at the Artful Delight blog.  Maybe YOU will be the randomly chosen winner!  I am hooked on Leeanne's delightful monthly kits.  Each kit includes coordinating card stock, a variety of embellishments, and plenty of *new* collections of patterned papers.  These kits are a great value.  It is only the first week of January, and only one of the January scrapbook kits are still available and two card kits.  Check out the contents of the kits here.  For more inspiration, check out the lovely creations by the DT on the Artful Delight blog.  Previous months' scrapbook kits are on sale for $23.50...and there are coupon codes to use in conjunction!  Yep, now you know what to spend that Christmas money on:

• Save $5.00 off your minimum purchase of $15.00 -use coupon code "FIVE"
• Save 20.12% off your minimum purchase of $50.00 - use coupon code "HAPPYNEWYEAR"
• FREE SHIPPING with a minimum purchase of $75.00 - use coupon code "FREESHIP"

I am also entering my card in this week's "Anything Goes" challenge at The Kraft Journal.  There are lots of gorgeous krafty cards and projects on that blog if you are looking for lots of inspiration.

Happy Wednesday!

Challenge Rewind: Pick any SOS challenge from 2011

  This was an easy one for me!  I chose to go back to SOS challenge #9:  "Technique Turn Back:  use supplies gathering dust and/or a technique you have not used in a while (or ever)."

  I dug out some of the first stamps and papers I ever purchased (all papers and both stamps are by Magenta.)  Then I dusted off those Pearl Ex powders to use on my stamped and embossed image.  I layered over some equally ancient black hand-made paper.  All of this stash is ~12 years old!

  This was a real rewind in time!  My cards used to look like this...oh my, how I have grown :)

  Now it is your turn!  Choose ANY challenge from SOS (Shopping Our Stash) from 2011.  Be sure to state which challenge you opted for, then link your creation to Shopping Our Stash #33.

Happy Tuesday!

Six Flags LO

  Can you believe it?  Another LO from me.  I didn't even want to start yesterday's LO, but once I got going I had so much fun!  After completing the Alaska LO, I filed away the extras from that travel kit (card stock, brads, fibers, ribbons, etc.)  When I went to put away the extra travel-themed scrapbook paper in my "Travel" scrapbook paper file, I could not fit the file back on the shelf.  Yikes!  I looked on the shelf for something I could remove, and I saw a box of pictures I had developed to make a theme park LO back in 2008.  This scrapbook page is from a kit from 2003!  The instructions included tracing out and fussy cutting "the THRILL of it."  Oh, I remember having to stencil and fussy cut my titles.  No more!  I used Making Memories rub-on alphas (black lettering below) and my Cricut "Plantin Schoolbook" cartridge for "THRILL."

The kit was a one page kit using the SEI paper (circles) and Making memories double-dipped card stock colors.  Does anyone else remember that card stock?  I hoard it.  It is a great weight and the colors are wonderful.  I used the purple and orange as mats for these photos, then I went to my "Making Memories" card stock file in search of more for a second page.  I found a 12x12 in the orange (my last one!) and matted 4 photos in the purple again.  Then I found some red card stock in my red scraps that matched the red circle in the SEI paper.  I used it to cut "THRILL" and I matted two photos in the red:

Simple, but I am happy with it :)

Scrapbook Resolutions (*WARNING* wordy post)

Happy New Year!  My best wishes to you, my bloggy friends, for a wonderful 2012.

  Do you have new year's resolutions? Diet and exercise are always popular resolutions, but I think my resolution for 2012 may be to scrapbook more often.  *gasp*

  I am an avid card maker!  I am a very slow crafter, so scrapbooking a 2-page LO for me can be a 17 hour chore.  Yes, I admire you gals that slap together gorgeous LOs in 30 minutes.  I wish it came that easy for me.  I never intended to start scrapbooking EVER.  But a dear friend gave me two beautiful baby scrapbook albums as a baby shower gift nearly 10 years ago before the birth of my twin girls.  That was probably the most difficult moment in my life to be gracious...I smiled and thanked her, but in my head there were a few explicative words that are not in my spoken vocabulary.  At the same time, I felt guilty to NOT want to scrapbook my two sweet angel girls.  Another dear friend, Roberta, helped me get those albums done shortly after the girls' first birthday.  

  It was at that time that my dh asked me if I would make a travel album of each of our annual vacations.  I stifled a groan, but I did want to do this for him and for us.  Several months later we moved to Virginia and I got a part-time job teaching classes at a local scrapbook store called Memories.  I enjoy teaching and I loved the 40% off employee discount.  The teacher "pay" consisted of two identical class kits provided by the Memories designers.  One we were required to make for the store to display and keep and the other was our compensation.  On occasion I would make both kits at the same time, but not usually (yeah, I am regretting that now.)  So now I have a gazillion kits (only a slight exaggeration).

  Still, this resolution seems monumental to me.  You may know that I did a craft room purge last fall.  I survived that despite being really really busy.  I was able to donate a lot of stuff, but there is still plenty of stash that I am still hoarding.  I need to make space for new product that I know will find its way to my craft room!  So this is where my resolution comes in...start using those kits and I will      s   l   o   w   l   y      make some wiggle room for new papers and supplies.

  In stead of starting chronologically, I started with our most recent trip.  I asked dhDH (dear husband Doug Houck) to develop his favorite pictures of our 20th anniversary Alaska trip from last summer.  I pulled out the kit from the first class I taught at Memories (summer 2004!)  I moved elements around and did not use the coin tags, ribbons, fibers and some other embellies, but here is the left-hand page:

In 2004 the Memories kits did not have 2-page LOs (my personal preference).  So I took the other page from that kit and swapped out some papers so the right-hand page would (hopefully) flow with the left-hand page:

  It is difficult to see in my photo, but I matted these photos on the same navy and dark brown card stock used in the background on the first LO.  I also used another leather frame for "2011" and mini brads for "Alaska" like the ones used on the first page.  I promise it looks better IRL :)

  As much as I did not feel like doing this, I am pleased that I completed it and I am motivated to keep going!  And it only took me 2.5 hours.  And I am gonna ask dhDH to help me.  I will ask him to develop 6-8 of his favorite pictures from each trip, then I will make a 2-page LO of each trip.  One year down, nineteen to go :)

  A few years ago this gorgeous tapestry travel album was on clearance from Creative Memories.  I snatched it up for this project:

  Do you have any paper crafting resolutions?  I'm hoping to choose from my Memories kits and then decide what pictures will be a good fit...and not just for the travel album.  I want to get my baby pictures out of the sticky album before the pictures are completely ruined.  I also want to work on the girls' school albums.  I am not going to worry about chronological order just yet...I want to focus on getting LOs made.

What are your resolutions?