b3 * bold* beautiful brainy

Drumroll please...Great Thicker Stash Winner

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:17:00 +0000

And the winner of the fantastic Thicker Stash is...

What?

You can't read it?

Come on down Mel! She's an early bird and posted at 8:22 am in the morning all in an effort to win the great Thicker stash. I would quote you but blogger is being a punk at the moment and not letting me copy and paste. which is really cramping my style tonight.

You specifically said" I use Google Reader and sometimes it's not reliable..." Imagine that...kinda like blogger itself. Guess I had better slurp my blog over to blurb before the blogger Gods retaliate and shut me down. Paranoid much? No...not at all (smile).

Email me Mel (and OhioArtfulYogi @11:56 am and Holly @7:02 pm) so I can get your packages prepped.

Thanks for playing along folks. That was fun! I'm in a giveaway mood now...let's see what else I've got...

Poster #100 is...and the grand prize winner...

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:08:00 +0000

And poster #100 is:

AScrappersDelight said...
I love Thickers too! and I am totally adding your blog to my list as well. Fantastic!
6:35 PM

be sure to email me your addy.

Yeppers...my comments were still moderated (sorry about that) BUT blogspot is pretty good about keeping track of the order of posting (smile).

Off to a meeting and then in the wee hours of the night, we'll pull the great thicker stash winner.
A little birdie tells me that someone may just have to make a side trip after said meeting to a BL or two on the way home since...well...they are on the way home. You never know what surprise giveaways will pop up around here.

Speaking of which, if you like cool free stuff be it scrappy or not and you're local (Seattleish area) you'll want to hop over to my other blog for an awesome opportunity there. No comments, reader subs required, I'll just need to know your email addy.

Stay tuned for the grand prize winner late tonight (or early tomorrow for quite a few of you).

B

Questions, Answers & Winners (part 1)

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Awesome!

If you want in on the big thicker stash giveaway

you need to comment on this post (click the link)

Clearly, I am not the only person with a thicker obsession.

Thanks for all your gracious (non-motivated, I'm sure *smile*) comments on the blog. I'm actually in the process (for years now really so don't fret) of updating it and so many new subscribers will give me the motivation to kick that in gear. Okay...to at least blog more.

Couple of questions came up:

Yes, yes, yes...I don't sell my stuff here so feel free to swipe what ya like (the colors/black and white quote seemed to be the most popular). I DO ask that you attribute it (found at this crazy girls blog) and link me up and give me a clue that you're using it and where (non-commercial use of course) so that I can help ya promote it. Commercial use, I expect a cut. I'm messing with you, BUT I do work for a wholesome organization so I'd like to make sure my stuff isn't being used to sell...well...you know.

Yes I scoured the earth - well, Western Washington for these. Yes I found them in different weeks and yes, it was a really small (like one hook's worth) stash at almost every store. They WERE in the scrap section not set separate like the KI Ice grab of oh...what was that...2006 or 2007?

Lacey, WA (the one by Wal Mart) is the one that had them, not Olympia (the one by the mall). The one by the mall has lots of awesome KI ribbon; the one by wal mart has buttons as well as the thickers.

Federal Way may very well be out. Me and another pea were cleaning them out when I first got there.

Lynnwood may also be out. They had the least varied stash and you had to hunt for them in the scrap section.

If I were to go back, I'd go to Lacey because they were the most organized and they were JUST putting their stash out at about noon on Wednesday.

Different stores get their trucks (and offload them) at different times. Usually I think they get them Tuesday, but the Burien store got one last Saturday (with nothing good scrap wise) because of the holiday.

Just ask. The folks at the store when their next truck will be in. Take a picture with you (yes, you can swipe the pictures here), ask to leave it with them, get a name and when they are working so that you can call and ask that specific person if they have them. In some cases, it pays to let them know they are in on the great thicker hunt - one of the staffers called me to tell me they were in. Sometimes it could backfire, one store told me they didn't get any, but someone else told me they had just been in and got a bunch. Perhaps an employee was about to make a buck on ebay.

All said...the winners!

As you see above, I have four sets of the accents. I said I had three and I would pull two numbers but they actually go to four different homes. The huge stash is still up for grabs through Sunday night.

The three numbers I originally had were:

13 (who says it has to be unlucky? That's Roberts birthday)

47 (April 7 is the anniversary of when Robert and I met)

70 (that's the sum of how old Robert and I are)

And the one to grow on (that hasn't been reached yet) = 100. The last of the individual sets will go to my 100th comment on this post

***Congratulations***

#13 kee kee said...
I use Google Reader and love it! I've added your blog to my subscription list. Thanks for the chance to win.
5:17 AM

#47 Ohio Artful Yogi said...
I'd love to have that stash. Let's see your stash! Hope it is my lucky day!
11:56 AM

#70 Holly said...
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win these. I am going to check out your blog right now...I love the inspiration!!Thanks again, Holly
7:02 PM

Feel free to doubt and check my math (yes, even counting can be difficult and that is a blog update I didn't get to...one that numbers my comments because really, usually I only get like 2).

Email me at henderson.bernadette@gmail.com with addresses so I can get your packets in the mail. Or to tell me I'm a moron and the real winners are...

Tell your friends...the 100th comment (almost there) gets the last set).

I love thickers...

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:49:00 +0000

...but I love you more.

I'm too embarrassed to show my personal stash (shameful) BUT, this stash could be your's.

Since I'm selfish (the stash that shall go unseen) there is of course something in it for me:

To win one of the three chipboard thicker accentss I'm giving away individually, just leave a comment here. Call it good as day. I've already got two specific numbers that I'll be giving them to (as in the number X poster and the number Y poster) so good luck. No randomness, just a bit of luck. I'll pull those winners before end of Friday (Remember, I'm west coast so my "end" is probably later than your's).

But for the motherlode - which includes the above and then some, what's in it for me.

I'm a blog lurker. Like no one's business. But I love bloglines (and bloggers' blog reader and just about any RSS reader really) because I don't have to stalk ya'll to know when you update.

To get into the big drawing for the huge stash, sign up to read my blog in a blog reader. If you already are married to one (I love Bloglines myself) and you just add my blog to the blogs listed in your reader, cool. If you don't have a blog reader, check out bloglines because it is super easy.

Once ya sign me up, come back and leave a comment telling me which reader you subscribe to my blog from. Yeah, even if you unsub right after the drawing, I won't hate on ya (smile).

You have until 9 pm Pacific on Sunday (this Sunday) night to get that done. I'll draw a winner and post (both on here and via postal mail). Which means that you pretty please with a cherry on top should do the blog reader subscription thing because it is really sad when I pick a winner who didn't leave their email addy (understandable) but who never comes back to see that, alas, they had won.

All said, have fun. My gain (finally!) is your win (hopefully!).

Ready. Set. Go.

***thickers up for grabs: Prancer - chipboard; Jewelry Box - chipboard; Vera - foam; Black Tie - velvet; Dolce - fabric covered chipboard; Shoebox - chipboard and glittered chipboard; Darling - chipboard; Pajamas - felt (in black and brown)***

And of COURSE bloglines is temporarily down...And it is UP again. Have at it!

SCORE!

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Persistance pays off.

Lynnwood, WA BL

I just got brown, black and white.

They didn't have a ton, but enough to share.

First one (of about 9 stores I've checked) that had them.

Ironically...talking about class

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

So I got a really awesome request from Jean at 2peas the other day. The request was to feature this layout:

Campfires are My Fave

on her blog here. Cool blog about her love of camping which you should also check out.

I giggled a bit when she mentioned that my layout was classing up her joint a bit. I mean, because I keep it classy an updated here all the time right? Right...

In other grander than grande news...

This layout in all of it's awesome "Oh I should fix that, and that...and maybe I'll wait to post it" glory not only seemed to knock everyone's socks off at my homecoming to the place where I started this scrap journey, but it is awesomely one of the top 10 layouts of the past 30 days there. Awesome!

Flair is Cool Again

So yes. In answer to that question. I still scrap, I still blog. Just gotta spread the time evenly after my love affair this past long weekend with Facebook. I know...so much technology...so little time. For your patience, a boatload of {s}crappy goodness:

My Fave Part of Christmas
Ten Months Into Forever

Tweety Girl

(hit me up, followingb is my twitter id)

Thin Mint Cookie Monster

There are Days XO

PNW Love

Not Hiding a Damn Thing Shady Lady

Leavenworth Traditions

Girly Type

Distance Between 1st and 2nd Love

Still on a mission for Big Lots Thickers. If you find them anywhere in the grande state of Washington and you don't tell me, I'll hunt you down and hurt you. In ways only a true scrapper would ever dare. Papercuts anyone??

Cuteness personified

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sat, 09 May 2009 16:54:00 +0000

It's Saturday. I'm going to go play. Without hearing anything of course. Until later:

Thanks for stopping in!

For all things NSD

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Yeah yeah yeah. Some eye candy to make up for it is in order. Got super sick and tired (the no sleep probably contributed to it) and had to work and do all sorts of other stuff. If you stalk me online, you've seen it all, but if you're the one stop shop type...there you have it. All of it from my stash...didn't have to spend another penny to create them.

Ahhh...50/50 is going GRREEAT!

50/50 challenge...on the cheap

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:00:00 +0000

***Previously recorded post - I love scheduled posting not that I remembered how again so get used to it***

So how do you spend only $50 a year on scrap supplies? I mean seriously...especially if you're a paper scrapper (hey...one package of stickers can cost ya $4) or even if you're a digi scrapper? Those folks like myself who have already been doing it to it have a wealth of stash to get started with and really it just isn't fair to expect a newbie or a non-hoarder to spend only $50 for the rest of this year on scrap supplies.

But yes it is. You just need to know how to get your stuff on the cheap (aka, free).

You're reading a blog right? So probably my best tip for free scrap stuff is blog hopping. And make it easy for yourself by signing up for a blog reader like http://www.bloglines.com/ where you can track all 232 of your blogs effortlessly. Seriously...I'm back down to 62 and probably need to clear half of those out and add about 50 more of folks I've mysteriously managed to link to on my blog, but not on bloglines...go figure.

To that, some of my fave blogs to follow that are great with giveaways:

Robyn Werlich's {Discovering} Life - lots of stamp/scrap goodies
Ali Edwards' {A} - lots of scrap (paper and digi) and even scrap retreats
Kayla Aimee Only Slightly Neurotic - lots of SiS class spaces
KelliCrowe [i love folks that keep the blog name simple] - lots of scrap goodness
Ikea Goddess [did i mention my love of simple names?] - lots of digi scrap goodies

That should tide you over for a minute.

Layout of the Day | Sis eye candy faves

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:03:00 +0000

Actually of several days, but no matter. This was fun with a template by Tiffany.

So on most of the scrap galleries, there is an ability to save some of your fave layouts or even layout artists.

This past week at SiS, I asked folks to show me some of their personal fave layouts (of their own creation) and hip me to why they loved them. I promised I'd post an entry about why I loved their well loved layouts so here it goes! Definitely click on the name of the person to check out the photo of the layout - you won't be dissapointed~!

Pegasus - I LOVE how she used photos of folks near and dear to her that have passed. I'm always so scared to scrap photos of my grandmother because, well, I'll never get to take another picture of her and I don't want to run out of pictures of her to scrap. Hardly an issue since I hoard them all (smile).

BlessedinTexas - We all know I'm all about the pink. But I especially love how she did pink and soft and flowly on a totally grungy background with that ripped and stripped cardstock. The texture to this layout is to die for and so are the colors.

lalscrap - She rocks some awesome blue (even with a hint of pink) in this page about her son. Yes...her son. Yes...hints of pink. She really REALLY rocks the BamPop stamps and reminds me that I have a whole slew full of stamps that I need to use more often in my scrap happy fun times.

Juliaom - Yes...I linked you to her whole portfolio. Mostly because if you love heritage scrapbooking, you'll love what she does. I, admittedly, tend to play around more than preserve memories and do the research involved with heritage scrapbooking but looking at her portfolio is like reading an AWESOME story of someone else's family tree. And she does beautiful photography on the side to boot (smile).

haggith - Technique scrappers are some of my fave scrappers in the world. Mostly, because I don't have the patience for it. Something about getting out the art supplies and doing something step by step and having it turn out the way I intended is intimidating. But every time I see a page like this, I think "hmmm...bleach stamping might be work another try". Right after I try some masking... She rocked the stars on this page. Break out the inks girls!

jenniferP - She reminds me why I LOVE the SiS gallery. Every morning, before work...something bright and fun and "hey, I need to check that out today" catches my eye. Her title is actually a song lyric which I had to look up because hey...that page is FLY! Beautiful bright colors, great photo, fun take...definitely worth a peek.

JamieBoBamie - Rocks. Mostly because I love lots of couple's pictures (for obvious reasons) but also because as much as I LOVE journaling and want to see lots of it on layouts (check), I HATE cutting out journaling strips. Anyone with the patience to do that is hands down a fave in my book. LOVED the tongue in cheek humor/honesty to that journaling too.

Maritscrapworld - This layout BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was literally breathless reading the poem. And the way she scrapped it...all dark monotones with that ray of light through the window...that glimmer of hope. I'm tearing up on this one so I'll leave it at that. You HAVE TO click on this one and read it through. Scrapbooking is about not forgetting. This page so captures that.

smilesfrommel - more fun with heritage photos, but in a very unexpected way. I LOVe pages like this that use old photos (we've been over that already) BUT, in this case, I also love how she stayed pretty true to her fun scrapper style and didn't use muted colors and take us totally back to "back then". She kept it here with fun little twists (literally) like those twine stiched frames.

Got a fave layout you want me to peep at the SiS gallery and leave some love on? Link it up for me on this thread and I'll stop on by!

I'll do another installment soon with some eye candy of folks I love to love (aka, Ms. Jody).

Another day, another page

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:02:00 +0000

Layout of the day:

Wedding Note to Self

photo by my amazing wedding photographers

50/50 challenge for me cause I made it hybrid (you can use digi over and again)

AND because everything else was from my stash. Tip 'O the day:

Do good work, get on a design team.

They give you TONS of extra stuff

Like all the October Afternoon on this layout.

Enjoy!

This one will need to tide you over.

Till at least Friday.

I have to work for a living Thursday night.

Friday is "Show me your Faves" day.

Totally.

scrap 50/50 challenge

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Ready for some fun?

The other day, I was in JoAnns for the Daffodill Days sell and I thought to myself:

Really. You don't need a lot of stuff to scrap fun pages.

So I challenged myself. Spend no more than $50 this year (well, the remainder of this year...and that doesn't include glue for you glue sniffers, but for me, it does on a go-forward basis cause I also click scrap and can totally do that without glue), get at least 50 layouts done.

Which, is a good enough challenge for me. Cause I LOVE to buy the digi pretty stuff. I've gotten better about the randomness in scrap stores mostly because I live nowhere near a reasonably priced scrap store anymore and because, well, it just is far less interesting to me the stuffs that I can find in big box places. And cause we don't have a box on the porch anymore, I totally don't order online because who has time to go and pick up packages that they won't leave for you.

I digress.

50/50. $50 spent on scrap the rest of the year. 50 layouts completed. Join me?

I know I can get more than 50 done (on weekends that I'm home) but that will totally make up for those bogus work long weeks where I get nothing done. Spreads out the pressure and all.

This challenge works well for hoarders (you can shop your stash and not count that towards your $50...thank goodness I have plenty of cardstock and adhesive). It also works really well for newbies because you can see that you can shop purposefully and get it done.

To that...let's go. Each time I post something to this strand, I'll be sure to include a link or two for inspiration (get it scrapped) or good finds.

Good inspiration and free goods find: Pencil Lines Sketch Blog

Plenty of good sketches and layouts by their amazing design team for the glue sniffers (paper)I'm a bit partial to TraciH's stuff and have been her scrap stalker for a while. Free digi templates to download for the confused (hybrid) and clickers (digital).

Show me what you do and I'll leave love in your galleries and on your blog for ya.

They lift me up (Mojo Holder)

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:24:00 +0000

So a little bit ago, a sweet person emailed to ask if she could lift this page:

For as long as I can remember, there has been a raging debate in the halls of scrap justice about scraplifting. I've settled on inspire and be inspired. And you know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (so they say).

To that, I love blogs like Mojo Holder because they actually credit the folks they lift (which is the only bone, if any, I think most people truly have with "lifting" aka "copying" a page).

Check out the amazing takes on my Urban Glimpse Farm Life layout right here at MojoHolder.

I was lift # 106 posted on April 10th.

At Mojo Holder, you'll find a sketch of my page to follow.

You'll also find lots of great samples like this one by Angie

whose blog is Pink & Black Snaps and Scraps.

Check out all the links.

You'll like them. I promise.

Thanks for looking!

And don't forget (yes, another link)

to check out the contest at

Colored White

Guessing games are fun!

New Day...old stuff

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:41:00 +0000

So I spent a good chunk of this morning (and some unclocked other time) re-arranging my galleries about the world. I would say my most updated gallery still remains at SiStv, but I'm working on cleaning up the 2peas gallery and Tally as well.

It is getting there.

But in the midst of getting, figured I'd share some of my fave layouts for this time of year:

Wow! Me!

Birds are back and love is springing

Anniversary Card

4 years of breathing again

Tibetan Memories
april 2007 trip to Tibet

Happy Springtime!

Why, When, Who and What - on Leaving SiS

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Officially - March 1.

I no longer have that bright little red F star next to my name at Scrap in Style TV.
All in all, I need to be purposeful and make a difference. There is a ton (okay...a ton and a HALF) of talent at SiS just oozing out your monitor and like my work life, my love life (ouch) and my life life, I just feel that I gotta keep it fresh. New challenges, new goals, new hills (mountains lately) to climb, new springness all around.

I thought I could totally just go cold turkey on the scrap with no scrap room in sight. I just can't quite that stuff man. So I'll be around. Commenting on your stuff and getting inspired. Occasionally looking at the box of scrappiness I just COULD NOT pack away (it is just so fun to touch...).

And yes, scrapping.

Keep it real, touch people, be you and watch out now.
hunkering down for 2 years (or so) of white bread, American cheese and mayonaise sandwiches.
The sacrifices we make for the American dream.

A year to grow on - blogging flow

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:43:00 +0000

So by now, you know I've resigned at Scrap In Style. Yeah and it goes.

So I think, while we're staging and not doing anything remotely resembling LIVING in this house for the next few billion months, I figured I'd post a scrap page recap a day (or, as often as I post since we all know daily isn't in my vocab). Just to open up the floodgates and try to convince myself that scrapbooking is essential daily living again. Wouldn't want to forget how to do it and all.

This first one is for Ms. (Mrs.) Ohio who wants to know all about scrap.

A Tale of 2 Beach Bum Lovers

Love this page. Six photos (the little circle photos around the main photos are tiny condensed photos), one piece of scrap paper from my fave 7gypsies. A lick of ribbon (not sure by who, I have TONS of ribbon scraps, really...I packed the boxes), a couple of chipboard hearts (Making Memories) painted red. Some chipboard letters also painted red (also Making Memories) and some left over letter stickers I had a while ago. A couple of great stamps (the dotted circle and the tiny heart). Some hand journaling that tells the story of the title and some stamping to list out all the different beaches we've been to together.

TFL (again)!

For every beginning...

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:58:00 +0000

...there is an end. I know some of ya'll never thought the day would come. Others couldn't wait for it to come soon enough. And since we're in the final tosses and turns of it all, I guess for me, it is time to share it with the world.

The hardest post I ever, EVER made at Scrap in Style TV was to my Fgirls and I said this (kinda the condensed version...as condensed as I get anyhow):

My favorite group is Boys II Men...and fittingly enough, on tele the other day, I saw a really REALLY old video. End of the Road. I loved the whole CD that song came on. Cried my eyes out because I had just broken up with a guy I never really dated to begin with. BUT that was not the story I was going to tell.

The end has come for me.

I love you all passionately.

I've never been the get it done girl.

There are a million excuses for why not - getting married, working my fingers to the nubby bloody bone just to get a cookie (literally...I have GS cookies iffen you need them!), packing up my scrap room, barely coming to grips with sharing my computer with "that dude who is my better half...until he tries to get on the one computer left standing in our very bare place", packing said whole place up and moving on up to the Eastside burbs but not until we sell the current place, settling lawsuits, etc. None of it more important than anything anyone else is dealing with, yet I kept hanging on.

Barely.

So now we've come to the end of the road. No...try it again. Sing it like the Boys. Come....to the end. of. the road. Still I can't let go. It's unnatural. You belong to me. I belong to you.

And saying goodbye (evidently) is harder than hell for me.

To that, I let JJ, KA and Diane know. And JJ graciously allowed me to postpone the "final" day until March 1. Mostly because she was pretty sure I'd post stuff from the last collection I got (perpetually behind...they are coming) but honestly because I did not want to be part of any kind of drama whatsoever.

Some of my bestest scrap friends in the world have left in ways that have totally saddened me. And I knew I'd be plenty sad enough under any kind of regular goodbye to throw anything else on top of that.

All said...after March 1, I cannot promise I'll still be around [at SiStv] so I won't go there. Doesn't mean I won't stalk your blogs or still want to email you congrats when you make a dream team or do anything whatsoever that you're passionate about. Doesn't mean that because I DON'T reach out that I'm not thinking of you. Just means that I don't have my priorities straight and hawking GS cookies on the corner superseded emailing you. Or playing Scarab Solitaire on Facebook is an easy enough escape from facing the fact that I should be doing something far more productive (like, connecting with real people), but I'm going to procrastinate on that too.

All in all, no rergets, lots of self reflected learning about commitments and lots of full on appreciation for the better person you all have made me in your each and special ways.

Now. If anyone knows anyone looking to buy a fabulous house in the hood (up and coming hood though...) in Seattle, please please PLEASE be in touch. We walked a model in suburbia yesterday that had a built in scrap room. If I had that, and some subsidies from the feds to pay my mortgage, I'd totally quit my job, learn how to meet deadlines and beg JJ and LG to take me back.

Enough already.Love you all. T-minus 6 [now 3] more days until my life will never be the same.

Keep it real. And tame your addiction to Facebook my friends.

Pictureless Scrapbooking

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Evidently, I do it more often than not.

Over at the Hodge Podge Art blog, they have an AMAZINGLY FUN challenge going on to scrap a layout without pictures. Of course, most folks are like "WHAT?" how in the world...but really, it is all in the details.

Here are a ton of examples of what I've done in the past. I hope to get it together in time (out tonight...painting tomorrow, probably dead and packed by Sunday) to get a new layout together, but just in case not...have fun with it!

Be sure to click on the photos because it will take you to the detail about the journaling (or the story behind the layout) over at SiStv.

The first example is of using pictures, but not photos. The images are actually clippings from travel mags pasted together from my inspiration notebook of places I want to go. The rest are truly no image layouts.

Get creative with it and have fun!

Thanks for looking!

For the love of years, Wilna and scrap

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:45:00 +0000

An alternate title for this post might be "A Love Affair with Kraft Cardstock."

I've blogged here for years now. Yet...my post count wouldn't seem it. So I need to be more active eh? Or not for you oh so patient ones. Maybe I'll schedule two posts for a day. Now that I have figured out (a bit late to the game) how to schedule posts, I can totally do a whole bunch of posts now for later when I'm all crashed and burned out. So the simple stuff first.

My dear DEAR friend Wilna has an amazing blog contest going on to win a spot in her super special puffy heart heart class. You totally need to sign up...at least to try to win (it is an online class...even better!) and to take the class if you don't win. I've never been so excited for a class and it is timely too. I think Valentine's Day is probably my fave crafty holiday.

Check out Wilna here.

Me. Oh yeah...my connection to Wilna is that way back in the day (way way back) she sent me a tiny box full of amazing yummy goodness. Read that as "Making Memories goodness". So I am very much practicing not hoarding and using up more of my supplies. What I love about most packages of MM stuff is that you can make a TON of layouts out of one package of stuff. So many tags, buttons, looking glass buttons (I so covet those) and other just GOOD STUFF to scrap with. And since I do it hybrid style, it just stretches those scrap goods even further in this day and age of thrift. So here you are my pretties. Thanks for still stopping by!

An Urban Glimpse Farm Life

Unbelievable Everyday

An Unusual Trip

African Memo

If I Explored

Just Go

Life Is Good Take 2

Mesh

Market Fresh

Maybe Relativity Matters

Sharing. Celebrating. Happy

Tibetan Memories

While I'm listening to Get Silly...Get Published

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:32:00 +0000

My first class at SiSTv kicks off today. I'm so very honored to get to team teach it with Jen Jockish and Corrinne Delis.

Ever want to see your name in flashing lights?
Splashed across the glossies?
Recognized as one of the greatest scrapbookers of all time?

Well, this isn't the class for you.

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There are hundreds of tips, photos and nuggets of goodness that you get to pursue at your own pace (it is an e-class via email...save the messages, print and read when you have time). It is appropriate for all level of published or not person--I've been published tons and already learned a few new tricks to the trade. And if you're new to the process, the materials are presented in a nice step by step format so that it isn't all overwhelming.

So what are you waiting for? Can't wait to see your name in flashing lights!

2008 Recap #1: "Reverse" Hybrid

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:30:00 +0000

So. We come to 12/28/2008 and I feel the need (since there are three 2s up in all that) to recap the year. In scrapbooking. There were plenty of highs and a low or two, but all in all, scrapbooking is still scrapbooking and life is life. So three for 2008. Starting with my trend towards reverse hybrids.

Now. I'm not so sure that this is what it is called. But generally, my understanding is that you scrap digitally (with a computer), you scrap paper (without a computer) or you scrap hybrid (generally, paper, with some computer help that is printed to paper and then scrapped "paper").
For instance, if you break out all your letter stickers, paper, rub ons, your sewing machine and all the cute buttons and the whole layout, complete with maybe hand journaling, then that is a paper layout.

If instead, you sit down at your computer and pull up your digital pictures which you don't print out, you start up a photo editing program (ie, Digital Image Suite...rest in peace), you create a 12x12 canvas and you start dropping all sorts of great digi elements that you find at places like 2peas and DesignerDigitals or from the Freebie Blog (Ikea Goddess), and you basically don't print anything until you've basically finished it all, then that is a digital layout.

So for me, reverse hybrid is what I've always called layouts that start out paper. But you leave lots of space to go digi on it. It is probably really just easier for me to show than tell so here we go...some of my fave "reverse" hybrid layouts I created this year with some details on what I think makes them hybrid and reverse hybrid at that.

Enjoy!

You Are My Everything

This one is pretty simple

Almost everything is paper:

kraft cardstock, letter sticker, patterned paper cutout,

buttons, staples, chipboard and sharpies

Where it goes digital is with the title work

After photographing the entire paper layout,

I added the title digitally in Digital Image Suite.

Sagitarian

Much more complex layout in this case.

I stamped the title in the corner.

The photo is attached with real hand stitching,

the miniature book pages, blue ribbon, foam flowers,

masking tape (and journaling on it) are all paper based.

Where this goes digital is with the colored in doodled circles,

the "all about me" journal strip, the letter B,

the "fun" label, the doodled scalloped circle,

the pink inked edge and the paint swatches.

This got a little more complex because

the layering of the digital elements

also had to reach behind the paper elements.

Play Hard '07

This one is probably about medium level difficulty

patience considered.

The cardstock, patterned paper, photos, thickers, chipboard,

tag and sharpies are all paper based.

The "good times" tag is digital and had to be layered

under the "hard" thickers.

Other digital elements were the word stickers in the top right corner,

the stitching and the cardboard strip in the top left corner.

The ric rac and yellow paint circles are also digital.

October Patch Work

Really simple hybrid based off a really simple paper layout.

Photos, foam letter stickers, paper flower, sharpies are paper.

Cardboard, stitching, brads/eyelets, tags, journaling, butterfly

are all digital done in Digital Image Suite.

Live Your Life 24/7 Journey

Another really simple reverse hybrid where everything is paper, photographed into digital and then I layered the word art onto the photo and the journaling to the side of the photo.

Life

Here, once the patience is down, is a medium difficulty one.

There's some digital that had to be layered behind the paper version

(the patterned paper strip on the bottom)

but generally, the digi elements are layered on top

(cardstock, patterned paper, word art, sticky note, chipboard photo corner)

Life At 30

Super simple one here...just added the journaling after the fact.

I Heart Your Old Soul

Just a bit of layering the stitched hearts (digital) behind the thickers (paper).

Cardstock, ribbon, patterned paper, KI embie, sharpies, thickers are paper.

Brown patterend paper, staples, stitches and stiched stars are digital.

Even the torn/curled edge is a digi element added after the fact.

Full Color Learn

Really easy. Everything is paper except the cluster of journaling tags. On that cluster, everything is digital (brushes, stamps, journaling, staples) and the red rubber band towards the bottom of the page is also digital.

Flick Play

Another simple hybrid just because not much hard layering.

the title and large photo cluster in the center are all paper.

Everything else is digital added after I took a photo of the paper page.

Do You Remember?

This is an easy one except that with the circle cutout, when you digitize a paper layout, of course anything you cut leaves a white background. So had to do a bit of dodging and burning to cut the photo but still leave the kraft cardstock as I didn't think to notch the photo in the paper version. All said, the Heidi rub on, photo, white label, question mark and patterned paper are all paper. The title, the circle lable and scalloped edge and heart (and the journaling) are all digital. The staples are paper, but I digitally duplicated them for emphasis.

Dizzy Luv

This is one of my all time fave reverse hybrid layouts because I honestly thought the paper version was pretty sparse. This is one of the few reverse hybrids where just a few simple bits really completed the layout. The paper bits are the patterned paper, brown flower, photo, fuzzy sticker letters, sharpie, tags and paper frills. The word art, cardstock strips, staples, vintage pharma label and the strip of tape in the lower left corner of the photo are all digital.

Click

Another very simple one. All paper except the journaling which I added as a digital layer on top of the white labels after digitizing the layout.

At The Fair

This one looks a little more complex than it is. Added the journaling digitally to all the white space areas after everything else was paper scrapped. Then to add the layered effect of the journaling being under the vintage fan, just duplicated the fan and added it as a digital layer on top of itself.

All of You Make Me Better

Some slightly difficult layering of digital elements under the bottom right photo.

All the labels, stitching, word stickers on the photos, "Love You" stamp are digital; rest is paper.

2nd Fiddle Assistant

I think this was the first reverse hybrid I did with the thought in mind that I was going to do it. all the stitching is digital and I ended up adding the cardstock too.

The rest is paper including some stamping (the journal block, stars, lettering).

This is one of the more complex hybrids I've done just because of the layering. The cardstock frame, "&", chipboard tab, thickers and circular clear stickers are paper. Then I layered the art mark overlay under the paper elements and the journaling was layered on top of the art marks, but under the paper elements.

latest goods - Asher's Class is a must take!

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:34:00 +0000

Be sure to sign up for Ashley's Class

She's cool, scrapbooking is cool, the class will be cool.

Still I do.
Was mostly working on the wedding album that is kicking my butt.
So here's what else I've done as well:

We didn't get to go to the patch this year. Bummer. I'm a slacker.

But we did have lots of other fun stuff happen this year. Although most of these pictures are not from this year. Like I said, I'm a slacker.

journaling under the flap and you can read it at my posting on SiStv (warning, not very PC)

I'm officially middle-aged as of December 4, 2008. I can't believe how fast 30 flew by.

I LOVED those fuzzy felt letters and how they totally took to my black sharpie. I am in heaven with the photos, the memories and how that title turned out. Total.ly

For half a minute, we had Haute Spot Challenges at SiStv where the Fashionistas would challenge you to do some something or another. This challenge was to scrap for/about someone you had never met. I only met this dude online, back in college, was totally my first internet crush, right down to sending me a baby picture which was my first warning about internet love. And so it goes.

This girl is fly. What can I say. And NY is fun. I want to go back. But only if I can hang out with her...and with Crystal (not my sister, well not that kinda sister...). All we need is for Liisa to get in at Penn State and then I'll have reason to visit all three of them. Often. Cause I visit Liisa all the time given that she lives like an hour or so from me. Pitiful. I know this.

One of my all time fave garbage can layouts. Started REALLY simple in the paper version. Then I started sloppin' on all sorts of digi elements in the post processing process and I LOVE how this turned out. Love that photo, love that memory.

And if you can't tell by now, I love this picture of him. Wish he would wear shirts like that more often because it makes him all toasty and cozy and this is the time of year where of all times of year, he makes me feel all warm and cozy.

I have lots of pics of him with camera in hand. Which, I would think, would suggest that I've also got camera in hand to take said pics. But I don't know, so many folks are convinced I can't take a picture to save my life so maybe it's just magic (yeah, I called you out, and what). Anywho...(I miss Alex...dude Alex, not girl Alex). This was a fun simple one with just some journaling (digi) bout what we each see through the lens/art/science/adventure of photography.

Just a quick collage of the boys in my life that just totally rock my world.

And it wouldn't be a scrap session without some music inspiro (live your life) and some deep journaling to try to motivate myself to do something rather than just stare at pieces of paper for hours on end.

Thanks for looking and be sure to check out my posts at Scrap In Style TV where I'm Bernadette (really easy, imagine that) aka SiS # 57. Really. Check it out.

Wedding scrapbook cover photo

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:51:00 +0000

Sneak peek (smile)

Love you mom!

Photo by Gerald Pope Photography. Check them out! This is the scrapbook cover page for the wedding photos I'm abitiously trying to get scrapped in time for Christmas. Okay...Christmas 2009.

Non-Conforming to the Non-Conformist

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:05:00 +0000

Truly...since the 22nd? I've been a very bad girl. Why people check in daily I have no clue. But for your patience:

At the Fair: So I go to the fair. All ready to win me a gold fish. Riddle me this. How is it not okay to win goldfish but it is okay for kids (most in the midst of a screaming fit) to entertain us by trying to hold onto some mutton across a dirt field for their dear lives. I tell ya.

Full Color Learn: Another hybrid layout. LOVE. THIS. PHOTO. Loved the trip, loved the guy that took me and thankful he agreed to be stuck with me. I love going places with him.

Do You Remember? Speaking of agreeing to be stuck with me. I snapped this photo a week before that infamous date when we had to go get our papers in order. Dude was crazy sweatin'. Looking back, lots was going on that day and I'm just happy he let me get a picture in the midst of it all. I don't remember the exact date, I just remember it was like a week or so before our actual wedding date. Hence the title. I keep forgetting to ask him if he remembers the date. I'm sure we could track down a nice muni worker who would dig it up.

Go to stay, Stay to be: Pretty straightforward layout. I want to go to the south pole. He thinks I'm crazy. I have to say I'd probably agree because I'm not fond of snow.

Queen for a Day: Once upon a time, I was queen for a day. And that day (and that pageant) was a HOT. MESS (of the HAM type, yes dear). On the plus side, I was in HotLanta and as such, I can still claim that 2 out of the 3 times I've been in Atlanta, I was on CNN. It would be accurate to even say that everytime I've been in Atlanta on purpose, I've been on CNN. With a real important talking role. Uh huh.

Same Push: I had a different idea for this layout. It didn't quite come together like that, but the gist is the same. I was going to go all "I am woman, hear me roar" on how we always do it all but really, I've never done it all. I'm too super focused on any given "something" at a time to be a jack of all trades like that. In any event, my master's degree was a stitch in the side. Let me tell ya. Same push to get it done. Studious, but in non-studious ways. it is my upbringing. If I don't have to try, I typically don't.

Split: Love. This. Layout. Each photo really has layers of meaning and the journaling around the edges just kinda really details how split a personality I really can have. How people can stand me in intense doses (ie, Alex, Robert, Liisa, Rachel...people who should know better...only one, sometimes two of which knows my middle name at any given point in time--yes, I checked, I married a dude who didn't think it important to know my middle name which kinda leads me to believe he didn't do the background check I told him he should do...poor lad). Anyhow. Oddly enough, no high school pics. Hmph. I'll have to get on that.

Call it done. Enjoy and thanks for stalking...I mean...coming by! Yes mom, I'm working on it.

Bookworms (she still does it)

henderson.bernadette@gmail.com (B. Merikle) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:47:00 +0000

Well, yes, that way too. But more layouts are in store. You can peep them quickly here:

Some with more detail are Below plus two extras I still need to post at SiS but you'll get here first:

&: I love this one. It is hybrid (did the paper version first, then layered the digi on top and played around with layering). The journaling just felt right.

2nd Fiddle: We get to go and play wedding photographers for a friend's wedding next year. I get to play second fiddle photographers' assistant. I'm actually kinda looking forward to it.

I heart your old soul: I love the colors and textures to this one. Almost as much as I love those photos of that adorable child. I can't wait to have some of him of my own.

Make me Better: So this is what happens when I listen to music and scrapbook at the same time. But they do all so make me better.

Play Hard '07: I LOVE watching the two of them together. They of course jive because it is all about gaming. Love how this hybrid layout turned out too.

Sagitarian: This one started really simple. Then I went to town on it digitally. I saw a cute t-shirt that had all these "sagitarian" traits on one side and the sign on the other side. So I figured I'd go with it. Lucky you. Or shall I say lucky me (smile).

The One: You know...I thought this would go a totally different direction. Not my fave design wise, but the tab in the upper left actually pulls out a whole sheet of journaling. Blog readers get to be nosey like that:

Some folks will never ever see. For all the striving and reaching and trying and moving and counting and number crunching you just never see. Never recognize. Never watch for the writing on the wall. You get lost. You are torn. The minutes. hours, days. months. even the years. They all start adding up. You lose sight of the simplicity. The one sentiment that keeps you grounded. The one truth that keeps you whole. The one fact that if you hold on tight enough - hold on a little longer. don't slip. don't give up. Almost. but never. everyday. it is bigger than you. it grows but stays the same. it is you. it is more than even the two of you together. but it is so simple it is lost in the madness. in the crush for more and bigger and more complex. it is. always will be. as it should be. So much more than bank, black cards, cars, salary, years together, years apart, kids had and kids lost, loves before and years of love to come. really. it is smaller even. so much smaller. if you measure in size. small boxes. small if not little sentiments that mean the world. to you. to me. to us. to them. all your life you look for what is found and what is lost. or never had even when held in the palm of your hand. Daily you are reminded yet you don't remember. Yet you never forget either. Never & always. Now and then and even later. Go on and on or stay right here right now. In the shadow. In the blinding light. In the fog and the myste in the cool, clear, crisp day where it becomes clear all over again. Be it. In the moment and in the forever. don't deny it when you hear it and try to overanalyze it and over think it to the point of squashing it into tiny pieces. but still whole. Wholesome. Pure. Instant. Indestructible. Here. Acknowledged but invisible. Everything and nothing at all. All we need, all we are. deep down. at the core. interconnected. beyond your wildest dreams and most vivid nightmares. But right here. with her. with him. together. with nothing. with it all. in our hands, in our minds. in our souls. And of course. in our {heart}s. One heart. One love. One world. One us. One chance. Once more.

b3 * bold* *beautiful* *brainy*