Wowza...I should be shot. 10 days and no post. I might lose my blogger license. Quickly.

I have a HUGE scrap space now. Think--huge room about as big as my living room and dining room combined at the last place. And if I walk 5 steps around a corner I have the most inspiring view of all.

Come this week, it's a creating gal I will be. Priorities--camera, tuition for a friend, tv cabinet/dining room table. Hmmm. Not like payday won't come again right? Right.

Other blogs to update, then off to party.

Wow!

I'm here. I was actually sought out and contacted to be on a Design Team! How cool is that? Just when I was thinking that I really needed to update my resume and gallery at 2peas, I get contacted out of the blue to be on a team for a new online/kit site that is launching in January. Holy Moly! I'm psyched about it because although it is no pay, I finally get to be on a kit team (I've wanted a kit team for a while now) AND the bonus is that I get into CHA. I've wanted to stalk those halls for a while and see what the light at the end of the tunnel is so...

WOW. That definitely gave me the needed push to create again for the Type A point of it. Although I've had a great time creating Christmas gifts. I should have a camera by the end of this weekend to finally take more pics and post. Oh brace yourselves...

On my stalking adventures, one of my fave chicas did this on her blog. So since imitation is the best form of flattery...

Me...A to Z (Sara, you still rock)

A-Age: 28
B-Bed size: Full
C-Chore you hate: chore...what's a chore? I hate folding clothes
D-Dessert you love: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream...or Dutch Apple Pie and Vanilla ice cream...or Cheesecake...or carrot cake...but really, I don't like dessert...
E-Essential start your day item: alarm clock set to go off at least three times (not snoozed, but actually set to go off...ie at 4:45, 5:00 and 5:15 am)
F-Favorite actor(s): Denzel of course...and Will Smith...and Morgan Freeman and Matthew M...oh...gals...Julia Roberts, Halle Berry
G-Gold or Silver: Platinum. White gold. Silver. In that order.
H-Height: 5' 9" - 6' Just depends on the time, day, posture, company...
I-Instruments you play: clarinet
J-Job title: Assistant Director, Law School Admissions
K-Kids: not yet
L-Living arrangements: loner during the week, spend lots of time in another residence on the weekends.
M-Mom's name: Gerri Michelle
N: Never: plead the fifth...
O-Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Most recent (often) blood transfusion for severe anemia
P-Phobia: failure, becoming complacent
Q-Quote you like: There are those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who don't know what the heck happened.
R-Right or left handed: Right
S-Siblings: 1 sister and 1 brother
T-Time you woke up today: 9:30, it's Sunday after all. Tomorrow, I'll be up at 4:45
U-Unique habit: I smile a lot. almost all of the time. and it's because I'm happy. almost all of the time.
V-Vegetable you hate: cauliflower--albino broccoli. need I say more?
W-Worst habit: I buy...and buy and buy and buy. For me, for others...for the sake of the economy...
X-X-rays you've had: just ultrasounds to make sure I am woman, here me roar...
Y-Yummy food you can make: Green chicken enchiladas...sweet potato pie...greens...give me a recipe and I'll make it uniquely mine
Z- Zodiac Sign: Sagitarius but of course

Promised. So here I am. Uhhmmm. Yeah. So I have done absolutely nothing scrap related since my last exhausted guilty post. Well...not entirely. I actually did post on 2peas for a scrapmentor. Talk about serious. HoF. Pubbing. DT. Fanciful dreams that are possible with structure and a plan. I've always been such the circuitous philosopher daydreaming the day away. Until someone tells me "Hey you, do this." I can flip, mold, color in and colorwash the "this" to be fantastically wow, but I need the "this" to get me off the boards, out the books, beyond the sketches and finally out of "uhhhhmmmm."

It's the simple things.
It's your chance to speak to the committee.
It's your last opportunity to be your best advocate.

I read lives and decide futures for a living. There is absolutely no excuse for not knowing/understanding/getting the process.

Time to stop promising, planning, intending. Time to start doing, doing and doing. Period.

Apologies.

All you subbed lurkers, I know you're desperate for me to update. Now that I work a full time job and commute part time hours...excuses, excuses. I need to get up to date here so here's a brief glimpse into my scrap world:

Camera on the outs. ouch. And payday to fix it...yet another two weeks. double ouch. Think I'll buy a new one. Sigh. At least it isn't my computer crashing out this time.

Scrapworks design team. I want it too much. Is that possible? Yeah...it so is. Breath in. Breath out. Man how crazy.

HoF. Yeah. Nuff said. Got a great keepsake under wraps. Because I was post happy, all of my fave layouts from this past year have been online or entered in contests. I was reading the 2006 trends article in the Jan Ck and of course my most fave layout of all times would have fit the whole trend watch. But that is the layout (Moments) that took Best Use of Ready Made Products at the Ck WA Convention back in October. Sigh.

Ck Convention followup. Gotta see about getting my layout back from Scrapworks and my card back from Paper Crafts. Want to use the card for a dinner party I'm going to do in the new year and of course have the frame the Transition layout for my new scrap area.

CKU. Gotta figure out which one I am going to. Hotel for Chicago is sold out. I also gotta double check dates because I cannot really travel until after March at the end of April or later. Which is kinda unfortunate because how cool would it be to go to Chicago or Boston? My voucher isn't eligible for Boston, but still...I'd pay to do that.

So there ya have it. Five for fun. I just finished a big part of the shopping for my bf's gifts. Now it is time to do the creating. Because I got the good--check that, GREAT reaction from our anniversary gift, I'm feeling more open about doing that whole sentimental route with him. He'll enjoy it.

Have a great weekend!

Not to be x2. I didn't make the Provo Craft Design team either. But then again, looking at those that did, not very surprising. Not a downer comment so much as a reality check comment. Those women are AMAZING. Fantastic friend from yesterday said today that I have to do this because I love it, not because I'm trying to work it. Which is all fine and good, but Type A personalities don't just do things to do things. You know what I'm talking about (smile).

So. That leaves Chatterbox, Scrapworks DT and Hall of Fame. I can do it. I know I can.

Sorry so short tonight...I'm so exhausted from work. Promise longer stuff later. Really.

Bernadette

Not to be. I didn't win the Life In Contest series. Thanks for all of the emails! Definitely, I know why I didn't go into a subjective profession--including becoming a lawyer. I think I'm at a place where I can truly believe the old beauty pageant mantra--different night, different panel of judges, different outcome. Meaning, it's luck, skill, talent and just plain "it" that contributes to a win in judged events and you shouldn't take it at all personally if you (or your creation or your project) doesn't wow them tonight.

Admittedly, it is definitely perspective building. What with the relocation, the money would have come in handy big time, but not winning really grounded me in how you never count those eggs until they are really in your basket. Helpful, but not necessary. It feels good to not be relying on pulling out a bit of luck to get the bills paid (smile). I'm fortunate to work a great job that makes it possible for me to buy all sorts of neat scrapbooking stuff to create with. And the fact that I got so much wonderful Scrapworks stuff from the WA win...

LOL. I'm laughing because when I was telling a good friend that I had lost the contest he was like "What do you mean you've lost? Think of your WA win as being state champ! You're one of the best scrappers out West! That ain't nothing to shrug a shoulder at."

Man, I am so fortunate to have people in my life that while they may not "get" the scrapbooking stuff, they "get" me and the importance of scrapbooking in my life.

So then...time to mount up again for the DT call. I have to push myself to do this because if I don't, I know I'll just always think that I was running away from potential failure. No excuses.

One more day of waiting. Then they'll announce the Provo Craft Design Team. Not a snowball's chance in heck for that one, but I've gotta get my three loses under my belt in order to get the guts up to try for Chatterbox and/or HoF.

Question I've heard often today? Folks want to know if it is harder to not get selected when there are only a handful of folks you are competing against (and the odds are remarkably easy to calculate) or if it is harder when there are hundreds and you really think you have no chance at all. Hmmm. Have not really thought of it. I'd imagine that recognition is recognition. To that, rejection is rejection? I don't know. I think in terms of success so it is hard for me to translate whether it would feel better to win among hundreds or a few. I mean...recognition for something you love feels good no matter the context so...sorry. Random ramblings that don't say much.

Alas...

8:14 pm PT and I've not received "the call." I am excited, nonetheless, to see who DID win the Scrapworks contest. I love all of the layouts for different reasons so I feel honored to have even been one of the Best of Shows. Yeah, yeah, yeah...it would have been a cool birthday present, but still, I got some great presents this weekend. My BF made me queen for the night and we went out to the Comedy Underground. I love his laugh...it is so contagious. Layer that on top of some really funny funny guys and it was a fantastic gift. He knows me so well it is almost scary (smile).

More on the other birthday stuff on Colored White. Back to Scrapworks. I'm totally conflicted about the Design Team call. Not that every contest/call/etc. I submit to isn't important to me, but this one just really, really hits home for me. I love their product and I loved how nice the folks there were throughout the contest...I just don't think I could handle that rejection.

Identify the fear. Embrace the fear. Conquer the fear. I need to apply for this because I think I'll be fine by not doing so.

Someone be nice and email me the winner of the contest tomorrow. I'll be starting a new job and don't want to surf the first day and won't be home until 9 pm so I will be the last person in the world to know.

Oh happy day!

Definitely not seeing the snow I was expecting in Seattle but it is freezing out here! I had to dig out a layout so that I could remember the warm waters of the Carribean and wish for warmer weather. I cannot help it that I'm a visual person (smile).

The other reason why I dug out that layout was because I just had to find my passport again--I'm starting a new job on Monday. The trip the layout archives was the first trip I took with my passport.

I just love this layout because there is so much going on in it, but it all seems to mesh together. Admittedly, I love all of the little details in these kinds of layouts, but the simple life is kinda more fitting for the time I have nowadays. But, since we're really kicking into HoF mode here, I thought I'd point out some cool details (at least they are cool to me) that I really didn't notice when I submitted this layout with my entry last year:

Photos--believe it or not, there are 9 of them on this layout. NINE! There is an assignment that requires 10 photos and folks think it cannot be done on one page. If you were to take the embie out of the bottom right corner and place a photo there, voila--10.

Journaling block--partially hidden, but it fits on this page. In the left hand, where the "tag" with paradise found rubbed on to it, that is the journaling block. I mounted the strip of photos at the bottom of the LO to a strip of cardstock so that the journaling block tag hides behind it. You can see paradise found. I don't tend to put directions on my LO (ie, pull here) so only those I share with or who are creatively looking for my journaling can find it. Fun times.

Embies--you could take out the netting/umbrellas grouping in the middle of the LO. I added it because one of my upper photos was a bit blurry. But remove it and stamp the {&} instead of using a wood piece for it and then you only have the flower groupings as embies. (Remember, we removed the lower right embie and replaced with a photo). Voila...three embies.

Title is obviously there, but a nice twist. Nice technique (stamping on transparancy) and interesting title--half and half refers to the fact that St. Maarten (the island I was on) is half Dutch, half French.

Get creative with it! Promise the pic will be back up soon.

Happy scrapping.

Outside shot


Free Shot


Close up face shot



Well. Got a great "all about you" challenge at 2peas. Unfortunately, blogger blows when it comes to posting photos, so I may not get the three photos posted. But here are my answers to the questions.


Name Bernadette
Nicknames Imanisasa, Scrapper500, Divine
Age 28
Born? El Paso, TX
Live? Olympia, moving to West Seattle
Children? Only when I regress
Fave Holiday tradition waking up Christmas morning and serving breakfast before gifts can be opened
Started scrapping "commercially" about a year ago; scrappily almost two decades ago
How many times published? 1 time in SS; Finalist (Best of Show, WA) in Scrapworks Life In Contest Series (pubbed online for that)
Favorite food green chicken enchiladas and dutch apple pie with ice cream. Of course not in the same bowl...
Favorite snack peanut m&ms; soybeans...again, not in the same bowl
Anything else Just loving life and enjoying the ride

And if Scrapworks couldn't get any better. They just announced their 2006 Design Team search. I'm almost afraid to try because on the one hand, what kinda humungous failure would it be to be a Best of Show only to not make the Design Team. Conversely, I already feel so amazingly lucky to have been a Best of Show in the Life In Contest Series so I kinda feel like my luck has run out on them.

But I will say:

Some folks are all over "they don't pay you." Well, payment comes in many forms. Yeah, I like cash like the next girl. But more than that (since, frankly, I do work a "day job" and am not trying to pay the rent off of scrapbooking), I like payment that takes the form of working with FANTASTIC people. I like payment that takes the form of free product that I will actually use (and use...and use...and use...). I like payment that makes me feel like I am being fairly compensated--be that in gratitude, product, networked connections, noteriety or cold hard cash--for what I do. Scrapworks design team would be a dream come true.

It is just amazing to me that all of these design teams with manufacturers that produce stuff I adore are all having open calls. I know my limits--both in regards to time for scrapping/designing and talent. So I don't limit myself to not even going for all of these neat opportunities just in case I make them all. Like I said, I know my talent limits (smile).

Anyhow, it has been a great, great day. The HoF ideas are flowing, I'm looking forward to tomorrow--BF said if necessary he would come and get me because it is snowing like crazy in Seattle. Just a tad bit here...but icy roads and almost broke out breaks...they don't combine.

Nighty, night.

Panic alert. Remind me to breath from time to time today.

So. I finally (FINALLY) got my Provo Craft Design Team entry in. Yippee caiyay!

I will post my fantastically AWESOME keepsake that I did with their products. But I'm going to post it PRIVATELY. I know I know...you'll have to email me if you wish to see it. I'm willing to share the photos one on one, but I've come to love this so much that I am going to use it as my "keepsake" entry for the Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame contest. I think it is totally unique.

And just as I say that, I get ANOTHER idea for something that would totally kick the idea up a notch and you know, I've found a new use for a very common toy. Oh goodness I get chills thinking of how amazingly cool this is going to be.

Anyhow.

Still sitting on pins and needles this week. Hoping beyond all hope for the Scrapworks call but already so content in that there are some amazing women (Keiren and Shannon) who I would be totally psyched if they won it. Keiren because I just love, love, love her layout. Shannon because I love her's too (and she did an AWESOME layout for the WA convention that got absolutely no love) but if Shannon wins, I get to go to her crop! How cool is that? If I win, she'll come to mine. And now we're both all about inviting Gina (the scrapper who was a Merit winner at WA and OR) so. One big happy love party amongst us. That is why I sooooooo love 2peas.

As promised to many a lurker (I swear people read this blog...really they do), the story of Scrapper 500.

So, the night of the WA CK convention, boyfriend, myself and the crew went out to the halloween costume party at the Showbox. Boyfriend, Bernadette and cool enough "go with the flow" girl who is a friend of the boyfriend dressed up in theme costumes. Let us just say that those theme costumes required "codenames." I don't remeber BF's and I quite think he might have gotten out of it. But girl who is a friend was named "11 mile". That's a story for another time.

Well, my name came to be "Scrapper 500" that night because earlier in the day, my BF got his first glimpse into just how friggin' serious I am about this scrapbooking stuff. I mean, he thought he was joining me at a convention just to carry bags as I shopped. Which he was excellent at by the way. But when he saw me taking notes at the contest entry wall, he got a clue.

When they were getting ready to announce the Scrapworks contest winners and I told him that I wanted to go and see the winners (they were not posted on the wall when I was there), he followed along dutifully. When I won and was totally in a daze and shaking and smiling 100 times wider than I'm always smiling (smile) he knew this was a big deal.

He asked me what I won for the Scrapworks deal and as is typical of most non-scrappers who don't get what a big deal CKU is (which is what *I* was so psyched about!!), he clearly understood $500.

So. That day he came to know me as a Scrapper. Being the finance/computer nerd that he is (God he is sooooo handy!!), he of course had to throw in some numbers to make that codename all the more secure and 500 was a natural fit (for the $500 I had won earlier...??...ok...). Yeah.