Two days into the AMR Crop

and I am having a ball. There are so many great challenges that have been posted. I have completed two and wanted to share one with you all. One lady asked us 10 questions and then challenged us to use our questions and answers to come up with a layout or a project. So I made my first mini-album. I used chipboard, a condensed cardboard and cut it into pieces. Then I covered it and decorated the pages with embellishments and with the questions and my answers. I had a lot of fun doing this and I think it turned out great. I will be doing more, I just feel it in my bones.

Fun times are a comin'

AMR is having a ROCKIN' online crop this weekend. Two days packed with fun stuff, RAKS and online classes. I can't wait and I hope that I will be able to spend lots of time cropping with my great friends I have over there.

If you aren't an AMR message boarder, come on over and sign up (it's free) and check out the crop. It will be a great time and you will make it more fun if you come hang out with us!

My mini book for ideas and such.

I altered this mini book that I got at Michaels $1 bins. I pick these little journals up all the time with the intention of doing this or that. So I picked this one up and with the idea from some friends at AMR I altered it to be a place where I can tally what I do creatively for the year. It was a challenge and I stepped up to the plate, which I normally don't do. But this one seemed doable and something I would use. So, I changed it a bit to suit my needs and made 4 sections, one for goals, one for accomplishments, one for ideas, and one for family stuff. This way my ideas and family events or activities won't go forgotten.

I have already stated some of my goals for this year, but I really want to get 365 layouts done this year. It seems doable if I stick with it. So far I am at ZERO but you gotta start somewhere. I will keep you updated as to how many I have done.

(inside cover and first tab)

So tell me.....

Do you like the new style of blog? Do you like my background or is it too busy? Let me know.

I haven't decided if I like it yet. I am not talking about this particular pattern but the idea of a fancy background in general.

I am scrapping today. The Christmas tree is coming down and my table is going back up. I can't wait.

So Frustrated....BUT new site...

Yes, I am so super frustrated. I have all week not working and I can't scrap one bit. I have my scrap stuff all over the place. I have a ton of pictures and I have no place to scrap. I am FRUSTRATED! There is nothing like a frustrated scrapper who can't scrap but wants to either. I mean, you can be a frustrated scrapper because you have no ideas and you sit down at your scrap place and.....nothing. Nothing comes to mind, nothing works, and you become frustrated. BUT there is something totally different about a person who has ideas, had pictures, has stuff, and can't because there is no place. UGH! I feel like I am going to go postal.

The other night I thought "well just scrap at the kitchen table" so I went and got a few kits that I have recently received in the mail and opened them up and took them all out of the protective wrappings and what happens? Two of the three kids come in with cereal bowls full of ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate syrup. The plop down at the table and start eyeing all the yummy goodness I had just spread out on the table. Their grimy little hands just had to start touching and I couldn't get my yummy papers up quick enough. Yes some got a bit of chocolate on them. (tears) So no scrapping at the kitchen table.

I did accomplish a snapfish photo book for our Christmas pictures for this year. That was fun but didn't satisfy my craving for scrapping.

I tried to crochet, I tried to knit, I tried to sew but nothing can scratch that itch.

I think I am just going to have to take down this Christmas tree that is blocking my scrapping stuff and set my table back up.

Okay so I was guided to this website by my friends at AMR and I love the ideas here. So check it out for great gifts, downloadables, and such. I am going to put a link on my sidebar for it too. The site is Skip To My Lou.

Happy crafting today!

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

I am becoming adicted and I can't help it. These embossing folders are the BOMB in my book. I can't seem to get enough and I have so many ideas floating through my head when I look at these. I need more more more....

So this one is just too gorgeous. I now wish I hadn't finished my Christmas cards like a good little scrapper weeks ago. I wish I could get this and make more more more.... well maybe I will. Maybe I will get this embossing folder and use it in a layout when I scrap our Christmas pictures. Maybe I will make some cards and send them out in JUNE or JULY for a Christmas in June or July celebration. Oh, see those ideas just keep on coming......

Oh here is where to get them... http://allmomentsremembered.com/osstore1/index.php?cPath=57

Taking Stock!

This year has come and gone. But not without crafty excitement, disappointment, and well stuff happened.

So I decided to take some stock in what I have accomplished and learned this year.

1. I started out the year with a goal to quickly get my Disney World album scrapped so I wouldn't forget a single moment. Turns out we took over 850 photos and well they were just so good. It took me 11 months and 3 albums to complete this project but I stayed true to my goal and didn't scrap a thing until I was done this album!

2. Since I decided to commit to completing the Disney album before I scrapped anything else, I had to find an outlet for my scrapping creativity. I mean there are only so many Mickey Mouses and princesses you can handle before you burst. SO I started cardmaking! This mini obsession turned into something oh so much more than I expected. Both good AND bad.

3. On the Ides of March (an omen???) I joined All Moments Remembered message board and have loved hanging out there. BUT it started and fueled this cardmaking thing. I saw so many talented people and their projects and well, they just looked so enticing that I had to try my hand. I pulled out the stamps (I hadn't stamped in years) and started playing. Well......that brings me to #4.......

4. I became obsessed with stamping. I seemed to have some old school stuff but nothing new and fresh. So I started shopping the $1 spots at Michaels and Joannes. Well, I became obsessed. I mean, they are only $1 right??? Well with stamps you need ink and with ink you need paper and then you need card stock and envelopes.... are you getting my drift????

5. When we started going to the river for a weekend retreat I never realized it would become a crafty outlet for me. They had a craft show and I signed up for it. I did well, but that led me to other things too.

6. I began making hair bows and selling them at the local pharmacy up the street (a good thing)

7. We got a dog and then I started making dog biscuits, fun but not a big seller and my dog can only handle so many cookies.... But I started making dog toys and pulls and tugs too, fun but I have a big box full of them.

8. I have knitted more washclothes than I care to count. BUT I use them all!!!

9. I have knitted a bunch of scarves, amigorami animals, and crocheted too!

10. Christmas balls, they were fun and I hope everyone likes them for Christmas.

11. Did I mention I finished my Disney album??? yes, just 1 month before we go again! I have also scrapped approximately 25 more pages for the family album too this year, BUT I am still 4 years behind and have only scrapped 4 years total in the 6 years I have been scrapbooking. I will never catch up!!! 4 years in 6 years???? Time is going backwards.....

12. I took over my daughter's bedroom when she moved in with my other daughter and shared a room for a while. The scrap space was nice but she wanted her room back and now I am relegated back in a corner of the family room.

13. I have learned that crafting for craft shows are fun but you never make any money, so it isn't a lucrative business, however I enjoy it and will probably do it again next year.

14. I have evolved in my style and breadth of paper crafting. I find I enjoy it even though I am not an artist or have any true talent, I can scraplift, cardlift, and basically copy others (not for sale) and enjoy the process.

Now I need to start thinking of some goals for next year..... more to come...