So why are they picketing the scrapbook convention?

That is the first thought that rolled through my head when I rolled up to the Oregon Convention Center this morning at 10:42 all pleased as punch that I had made it before noon.

"Wow, look at all of this great parking" was the second thought.

"uhhhmmm...these don't look like 'my people' really" was the third thought.

Then when I couldn't find the registration table and I didn't get a wiff of fine scrapbooking wares for sell in the vendor faire area (today, though, the Taekwondo arena)...I knew something was off.

Evidently, CKC-Portland is NEXT weekend.

This is realized after my tantrum yesterday when my pics wouldn't load to Costco so I could take them with me.

This I realized after staying up until midnight to finish a layout for the simple page competition.

This I realized after I drove 2 hours to Portland. Yes...this is the point I realized it was TRULY time to sit back and figure out what is going on in my life. Right after I realized I would have a really tough time back at home explaining this to Robert.

Who, by the way, grinned a huge grin and said not much else. Long time since I've been in a relationship like that...but more on that on the Colored White blog (smile).

Saturday/Sunday

Saturday...CKC portland. Cause like I need an excuse to shop for scrap supplies. maybe more buttons. And ribbon. Eyeing a crop a dile...because what's old is new again yes...no? can't wait to meet folks at the dinner. should print out directions for that--at least it is in my state. Which, unfortuantely, means sales tax.

No classes this time but this time I might (only because I planned on doing it today and didn't so might is looking very iffy now) get to enter the contests. Just the layout ones...I've about given up on cards (smile).

Sunday though, Crop Addict is having the one year anniversary party! I'll be hosting an online crop from 2-4 pm Eastern...11-1 Pacific (my time) just after getting in the door. It will be fun...promise. It's hybrid so make sure to have your computer handy (I promise, it will be easy and only as "digital" as you want to make it...think "print off a journaling block" if that is how you need to roll) and rummage through your stash with the CA store up so that you can see what you have from the shop. That will be a requirement (hint/hint). You'll have 2 hours to complete the challenge and I'll have some regular scrappy happy fun games too...so definiteyl come on by and chat, scrap and win some FANTASTIC prizes!

See ya Saturday in person in Portland or Vancouver. See ya Sunday online at www.cropaddict.com. I'm Imanisasa. Fun it is!

Really...550?

So...life is as it is. Come to find out HOF only had about 550 entries this year. 550. Which is so great and so bad. Great in that that is about the same chances of winning a spot (HOF or Honorable mention) as it is to get admitted to my law school. Bad in that there are about 9 out of every 10 folks who get turned away. Sure the numbers make you feel better about being able to stand out in the sea, but if you ain't got it you just ain't got it.

Some things that stood out for my "application" if you will:

All digital
All 8.5 x 11
All graphic, clean style

Some things that stood out looking back on it that are just either love it or hate it
So totally not CK style
Innovative...so subjective--innovative to me, tried and done by others...
Not every layout was a total WOW--collectively...they flow...some really are my faves, others are not my faves, but then again, every piece I've ever had published (so far) hasn't been my fave either...it's been me, but just not a "wow, look at that technique or that journaling"

Anyhow...overthinking. So to that...such is HOF. About two weeks before they call some really happy folks. And the other 475 of us bemoan that even in a small pond, we didn't have what it took to be CK material.

Alas.

See...I told you...

(smile)...that's why once I've done it okay, I don't do it again. Didn't make it as number 49 this year. Went from Top 20 to...don't know where but not Top 50. Alas. Some of my fave folks did make the 50 so I'll be rootin' for them.

Got asked today what I want to do after work this week. Not like a life "what do you want to do with your life" but a quickie, what are we up to this week. Thought about work and doing more of it. Thought about scrapping and doing more of it. Then really sat down and thought about it. And what I want to do is spend more time living. Now if only I could figure out what in the heck that means!

lol

Anyhow, March 3 -4 Crop Addict is turning 1! Totally cool right? But wait for it.

I'ma host a totally cool hybrid challenge. And of course there will be Crop Addict (aka, coolest kit club EVA) prizes to go with it. So...be on the look out. www.cropaddict.com. Right....So I'll be hosting likely Sunday night in between a hop and a skip here and there. Saturday, I'll be at the CKC-Portland and the dinner that evening. Soon enough we'll get introduced to the new Hall of Famers too...no chance in all get out at that. My style was way too simple once I shipped it out all proud and what not and then thought to myself really...get a grip. Alas...I can stick em in some really great blurb books (seriously--totally cool "print on demand"...check them out at www.blurb.com) and FINALLY get my mama that book of photos she wanted from waaaaaay back when.

Seriously.

Ooops...I did it again.

No silly...I did NOT shave my head. And I already talked about entering HOF again. What I did do again that is the subject of this blog thread is that I entered MMIDOL Season II. Yeppers. I hate doing something well enough the first time and going back and trying again because then I think I'm jinxed and can't top it. So it was quite a push to even get me to submit something. Because this time around people know they have to go big or go home and there were some really neat tips on the blog that gave away my secrets to success (number 1 being that 99% of life is howing up and the other 1% is presentation)...alas.

Lots more talented folks than me out there. I'm still a bit shocked I lucked up on a Top 20 finish out of the thousands of entrants. Here's hoping I might slide to number 49 this time--that would still get me on to the next round because they are taking the top 50 this time. In honor of that, I think a RAK is in order.

All three of the pieces I submitted are somewhere here on my blog. If you can guess the three I turned in , you're a winner! If no one guesses all three correctly, I'll give it to the person who guesses two...or the first person who guesses one. In that order. And what the heck, I'll throw in a RAK randomly as well.

Guess as many times as you like and have your friends guess too--if a friend team (they have to say in their comment or their email to me since every other time I've run these contests I get far more entries via email than comment field--that you referred them) wins, then I'll send a RAK to each of ya.

Happy guessing!

Remember when...

...way back in the day...I told you I had style? Well you have sooooo got to check. this. out.

That's the style book.

And if you go to

http://www.layoutblueprints.com/StylePreview.html

and scroll threw a couple of clicks (page 29 of the actual book, page 2 of the preview)

you might see someone/something you recognize in the top right corner.

How absolutely sweet is that?!

15.95 on pre-order right now.

You better head over to

http://www.layoutblueprints.com/

to pick up a copy now.

Tell them I sent ya.

Not that you'll get a discount or anything...but it's cool in any event!

38 what??!?

38.52. I about smallowed my tongue. So much for keeping promises to self. "No...you can't enter if you can't get it done in enough time to mail it regular. Or priority mail". Yeah...I actually finished last night and maybe could have pushed for earlier. But I hit a bump in the road (the nomojo bump) and was crying a storm that I just couldn't figure out what to do. I did a pure digi entry and I don't know how to incorporate other "crafts" into my work on this kind of timeline. Sure I can do my hybrid beauties, but I so wanted a full digi entry all in 8.5 x 11 so I finally got unstuck with the crafty combo option and instead chose to go with a color layout.

Which scared me at first because they just did a helpful little bit in the Top 10 issue on color and I was like...can I really evoke color in my love of all things streamlined and white? I mean really...I was a finalist in a major color contest by KI Memories (LOVE that album by the way and can't wait to share it!) and here I was afraid of color. Terrified of it as a matter of fact. But it came out to be one of my fave layouts of my entry.

Looking back on it now, there isn't a single layout that I don't love. And across all 10 of the assignments/faves, there is a definitive "style" going on. And I dare say it is like nothing else I have seen before. Which isn't really saying much. Because I've seen little, but it is definitely a different "digi" style than the current stuff. I mean, there's the whole "It doesn't even look digi, it looks 3d" thing that folks love. Me, if I'm doing digi, I'm doing digi. As you see a bit below, I don't try for the 3d deal because it comes across as 2d to me. The eye sees what the eye sees. So instead, I go for a cleaner, more graphic look. We'll see how that goes off.

Regardless, I've got some great pages I can slap in my Christmas book this year. And the assignments, though I was crying over them, challenged me and got some really cool results. I especially love my journaling layout. But then again, unlike most, I love to journal. So...there that is.

tomorrow...before 4:30 pm. 857359988850. Track it with me now.

Got it, get it, good

So...they got the doodle layouts. All is well there and very liked. I figure if the doodle layouts for the Doodle Book got all the way to AL already, then the Simple style layout should have arrived up the road for the Blue Media Style book. This is all so exciting. Being published. In books. That are sold in stores. Totally cool. I can't tell you how cool it was to pick up the first book I was pubbed in. I was walking through the downtown Seattle Borders store and there it was. I was giddy with excitement! For my first pub ever I stalked JoAnns for the Simple Scrapbook issue. And then the so totally nice cashier actually asked for my autograph. I felt so silly and we laughed so hard but hey...it's not everyday you get to see something in print and say "hey...I KNOW that person."

But you know what? Of my pubbed layouts, Simple, CK, the Blue Media book--they were all "me" layouts. And then there is now the doodle layouts. Both are actually rafting pictures. Both two of my faves. I say that a lot. but I like what I create. I was in a groove (smile). Cause my total all time fave layout (and most creative in my opinion) will be in Legacy. That should go over well. I should get back in touch with Alex and let him know he'll be pubbed. Or something.

And more scrappy happy things

And because life is good when you can scrap some, I leave ya with a few fun digi uploads for the night!

Sledding and more sledding--pretty sure you can click to get it bigger and read the journaling.

Gorgeous couple, great wedding. Love how this layout came out. Glimpse it now, it's coming down soon.

Just how most of my relationships start. This one ironically enough, started when Match.com had the Friends version of their site which was really cool. Oh how it bloomed into so much more when I found out the profile was coverted over. Ahhhh...it was so meant to be...

This one still needs a bit of tweaking but oh my WORD there has to be an easier way. But I refuse to go to the dark side--photoshop is for pros. I am no pro. I don't have the patience for the learning curve. But in the meantime...I came up with this. Those curved lines were close to impossible. There has to be an easier way...maybe with my Wacom tablet (smile). Had it for over a week and still have not cracked that baby open... more pro stuff I guess.

This is one of my faves. I will likely use the pictures in this neat idea I have but for now, this here fella is one of my fave people in the world. That's him prepping for his climb of Everest. Really now.

So, I've gotten a pretty good thing going so far. Got to chat about a new venture in scrapping that may just be pretty cool. We shall see. In the meantime, enjoy the goodies for the patient among ya! Tomorrow, I should have some stuff up at Diversity Designs as I'm on the Feb rotation. End of next week, the midmonth at Crop Addict will go up and I'll post some really neat stuff there too. Loving paper scrapping again. Pulled out a not seen fave today when I was mailing off layouts for the Doodle Book call (I get two layouts published in that one!) and resending my layout for the Blue Media Style Book (one of my fave simple layouts of all time--CK even liked that one...it was third place at the WA CK Convention in 2005). Anyhow, I kind of sort of had a layout potential for the CKC Portland, but it is way too busy so I'm going to redo it. I have thoughts of redoing another paper layout as a digi but I'd wanted to do it for something else which I'm running out of space for. My last thoughts on that is that I have this neat album idea that I have to get going on if I want to feature it for my next go rounds in March where I have a full kit with Crop Addict. Time to get on the ball scrapping that!

Good night!

Finally...kit 1

So it is finally up on Ebay. Starts at .99 for ALL of that! All of it! Bid now or forever hold your peace. Only up for one week!

Have fun and be on the lookout for more this week! Sorry...the flat rate shipping is only within the U.S. Shipping outside the US is actual cost.

You can bid on it here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270082160684

Recent Scrap Stuff

Yeah, and so I do indeed still scrapbook. Lots more digitally nowadays but I have a couple of paper kits to work with as well. In the meantime during the move, check this out and have fun!

Where Does Love Bloom?

Love this one...trying to keep it simple.

But it all just started flowing from the layered papers

to the tabs to the inked edges. Love it!

And on that Day, Forever Arrived

This one was quick. Just one photo so it was more about journaling

Not sure if you can read it, but I so love this picture.

Some simple brush work, some thoughts...

simple!

Boy Tired

For the longest time, this was my FAVE layout.

Probably because that is my fave person in the world.

And it was my fave week of my life having him

and my mom here for a visit.

Another very simple layout.

Picture, geographic, journal.

Simple!

The Nuptial Crew

I submitted this one for the CK Wedding layout call.

Love journaling from a different perspective

and I love how well that boy cleans up (smile).

Any Day Now

Not so simple (lots of elements and what not)

but did this from an Amy Teets template

And so love how it turned out

cause, as I said earlier, I love that boy.

See...I still scrap!

Still chugging

So yes, I do still scrap. I'm just in the midst of a move as well.

I owe people some scrap stuff and if it would ever thaw here so that I could get down the hill to my place without having the boyfriend see just how much scrap crap I have (and that's just the stuff I'm keeping!!), I promise, it is coming. It is even boxed up and on my table. It's coming...truly.

I sold out all the pre-packed kits. Yippee! Now, on to the ebay postings. I hope it thaws tomorrow so I can get hom eand get the scrap stuff I'm selling online. Everything from a Sidekick (with alphabet), sew mini, quickutz tool, Ott light...so much stuff. And then I decided to purge one of every two from my PERSONAL scrap supply so I have 14 MORE kits (and lots of idea books in them and what not) that I'm going to post to ebay. I'll start the bidding at like .99 so that everyone can have fun. If a kit hits $40, I'll ship it for free. Otherwise, shipping is $10 first kit, $8.10 each additional one you win. They are all packaged in the 8.10 one price priority mail packages. And they are stuffed FULL of stuff--so full there is no need for "filler" to keep everything from bouncing around. Seriously good stuff. You want an example you say? Stay tuned tomorrow. One more post tonight with pictures of scrap happiness lately.

Postponed

Yeppers--likely, if you asked, you are on my jury. I wanted to get together a mini portfolio to mail to you with the "thank you for offering your services, let's get to work email" but alas, we have no power. Lovely.

I'm at work trying to blog with no walls...living in the fishbowl. Not working so well. Supposedly we get power Monday so I'll get back to you then!

Till then...thanks!

Jury Duty

Your summons just might go out tomorrow. Still looking for a few interested jurists...

Looking for a few good jurists

well, the time has come. I've got a slew of stuff to show and no one to show it to. Why? Because I think I will give HOF one last shot. So this is where you might come in.

See, I'm in need of a jury. Not just a mentor, but a whole jury of folks that I can share my lovely work with. You don't have to be local, I can email it to ya, but I will have to have you sign your first born over to me. Not really, but seriously. I'll need folks who are willing to look at my goods and be honest. Sometimes, I'll send you a slew of stuff and say "pick your fave and tell me why". Other times, I'll send you a few things and a link to the assignment/rules and tell you to tell me which you think stands out within the parameters. No matter. I just need folks who are:

1. honest. Both in regards to telling me what does and does not work, but also in regards to not grabbing and running

2. reliable. I procrastinate. So if you procrastinate too and won't get back to me with feedback, then I'ma be in a world of hurt. Let me tell ya.

3."good" now this is relative. I'll want a link to your gallery of work. I want my jury to consist of folks with various styles/attention to detail and the like. Because I know what I like, that will be on the jury pretty heavily because I want to keep to my style. But I do want input from others as well. So if I don't pick you don't fret--you can look at my public stuff and let me know what you like/don't like and be an unofficial jurist.

What's in it for you? Aside from good karma (word of the moment evidently) all my jurists will be handsomly rewarded for their scrap helpfulness. I won't say with what just yet (cause I don't want you to submit your name just for that), but I promise you WILL NOT be dissapointed.

Okay--so if you want in, you need to email me at henderso@seattleu.edu.

And be sure to link me to someplace where I can see your work and tell me why you want to be a jurist. Let me know if you can do it in person (I live in Seattle) or if you want to do it via email. Most of the work will be during January--expect to do weekly communication via email, daily towards the end of the month. Duties will end January 31. You will be held in strictest confidence--meaning I don't even want you to let folks know you're on my jury. After Jan 31, all is fair game. Including scraplifting of any cool ideas I may throw your way. I would just ask that you not post said scraplifts until March 1.

Be sure to tell the world--you also don't HAVE to be a scrapper to be considered for this. Non-scrappers should let me know such (as you won't have a gallery to link me to) but definitely let me know why you are interested in helping out.

Kay. we're off.

Oh my freaKIng goodness!

So there are those (who know me well) who would say:

"She only entered for the Ipod"

And really, those folks would be so dead on.

But they, nor I, knew what all this would REALLY mean!

Holy good KIness!! I am so in love.

I already loved the letters and "photo corners" (ie, arrows to me)

But the ribbon

and the big box of good KI ness!

Totally cool!

Coolness - Legacy!

So it's official. Legacy has selected my most favoritist piece I've ever created for the August/September issue. I've posted it here before. And online at 2peas. I've santized for the "newness" but if you've been observant, you'll of course know which one it was (smile).

Congrats to Sue T and Jen for their RAK wins from CKC-Seattle (well, Bellevue really but we won't get into that just yet). They join Andrea in the rak winnings. Two more rak winners (or, perhaps, yet another double winner like Andrea and Jen), a scrapbook photos gig to give out and then the major prize winners.

Fun times!

Now if only I could skate to the post office and get those gifts sent out.

So here we are

A year later, we're still here!

Yippee!

Lots of great things in life to be happy about. Most of all, that a year ago, I was pretty miserable--not in the traditional sense, but just kinda surreal. Not with anyone, just kicking it with really no idea about this whole scrapbooking thing. I mean yeah, I had been pubbed in Simple Scrapbooks at that point and I had just come off an amazing weekend at CKC-WA. But even then, after that weekend, I had no idea of what I was capable of. I never would have dreamed that I'd actually get as involved with this as I am, much less that I'd be having fun doing what I'm doing. I mean scrapping started off diferently and for different reasons than for most folks. But still.

So a year later I'm at a point.

I've just made my third design team.
I've just been asked to pub in my third major magazine
I've just been asked for a submission in my third idea book publication.
I made finalist in my third major manufacturer national contest.

For thost that know me, those threes are very significant to me. Back in high school (seems so long ago), I had a fave teacher who told me of the power of 3. Everything in life, for good, for bad and for indifferent, happens in threes. I have no illusions about having "done it all"

No illusions at all there.

And I'm not typically the type that settles or gets content.

But I'm at a point. A point where I don't look at others and think "I can do that".

A point where I don't see the new list of calls at pub calls and think "WOW, I have to do that too"
A point where I'm not trying to kid myself into making a living with this.
A point where I can look in my scrap room and honestly say "I have enough. I don't need to go out and buy x" A point where "x" luckily, oh so luckily, comes to me by way of friends, family, and just play old moxie by looking for ops that matter to me. Really matter to me.

I'm at a point. A good point where the opportunities that I'm lucky enough to come across really mesh with who I am and match my goals. A good point where I'm super excited about living life--not just scrapping it. I love it. I really love everything this hobby has done for me. But I honestly need to keep it just that--a hobby. What that means, we'll see this coming year. Just thinking about it now cause I have some resolutions to get together and this should be fun. It is fun and that is why I feel a renewed committment to this, but I want to make sure that that committment isn't misunderstood.

Till then.

choices

well...choices to make. And I think I made the right one. It's odd. You get to points where you think you know what you are walking into, you walk on in and it is really quite the house of mirrors! Which, by the way, was my FAVE destination at Western Playland until they moved it into the middle of nowhere...bummer.

Totally happy right now. Got a call I've been hoping for a long time. Cept that it was a call with conditions. Sigh. Now I know how it feels for the students I waitlist cause in a way, that's what I'm faced with now. Accept the offering with hopes that more will come of it. Honored of course that they think highly enough of you to even give you the shot, but scared to death that you won't be able to measure up. So is me in the moment. And then I get another totally unrelated call about something I cannot share until Monday and though this is not modeling that by posting this vague teaser here, that call I just got is testament to patience and compromise. And it works so well for me. So totally well. So just more to contemplate and be totally happy about. More on that latter one on Monday.

It will work out. That I'm confident of. Even better, I'm now so totally motivated to get cracking! Just posted 7 more challenges for the CKC-WA dinner and I'm pretty excited by what the ladies have done there so far.

Really thinking of doing CHA-Anaheim this year...but have to figure out what's what and then some what.

On a somewhat side note--woke up this morning to a pretty severe accident on the East Side--construction crane crashed down through like three buildings right out by the Convention Center where I was just at for CKC-WA. Kinda crazy. Kinda close to home.

Alas...lots of scrap stuff at the BF's house. I should scrap something. Digitally at the very least. Reading up on HOF for Creating Keepsakes and just not sure. I like the challenges but I'm really for some reason or another getting to the point where I'm like...kay...I like me and that's okay. Less competitive if that is even possible (smile).

We'll see but thanks for asking. Promise...besides my own little mind knowing...I'll post the breaking news here if I decide to go for it. Messin' with ya...

And in a month's time...

Wow...not like I have done nothing scrap related for a month.

Most notably, got to meet some fantastic, amazingly talented online scrap friends (some for the "again" time) at the 2peas Pub Dinner at CKC-Seattle.

It really was a blast being in touch with mf's to get donations and I can't wait to see all that the women do with the products. I even gave away a super rak!

So aside from that...what else? Got my first call for Legacy and shipped that off this week! I really hope they like it in person and pick it up!

Been getting some good progress on some other assignments and I'm really looking forward to hearing back about a DT call this week that I have really, really REALLY wanted to be on for some time now. If I don't make it, the time isn't right ya know what I mean? I truly believe it with this particular one because of some history there, but definitely would be a thrill to work with them.

Oh and back at CKC...got to see the "innards"...the sausage being made. I helped set up one of my most fave mfs of all time at the show. Not biased at all (smile). I worked with Deb from the Fiber Scraps booth. I have to email her to get her to send me the pic we took but I was more than half a wreck. She called just as I was getting out to Azteca to make final arrangements on Thursday and I was like "yeah, I can help". Well...cause I'm not a no girl (smile). This was one of the thousands of reasons why I am happy to be a yes girl--met a really great person who was in a bind and I was so happy I could help her out.

Last trip on the road so I get to play with my CKC goodie bag and create some great stuff for the challenges to post here and at 2peas. Be on the lookout!

I've got style!

Blue Media style that is. Got a call for a layout--number 12...the infamous Moments. I love that layout. So simple, so clean. Love it. And it got picked up for pub. Finally.

Much love to all.

So I have a whole bunch of layouts I did on the road. Didn't take the scrap supplies as I wanted and that is probably a really good thing. But did do it to it digitally. Got lots to share and hope to have lots of internet time thsi coming week to get some of it posted.

Till then!

WHAT?! MM Idol?!

Yeah...that was my reaction when, after seeming forever of no internet access, I signed in to my email to find out that I hadn't made the top 5. I was like "well, duh...1000 entries, that's no shocker".

So really, I was thinking that it was a standard (but really nice--in wording and thought) mass generated email to everyone who entered.

Then it dawned on me.

Girl, you are one of the 20 finalists!

I think I about sucked all the air out of this here 10 story hotel. Yeah, I was beyond shocked.

Not in a "well, it would be really cool, keep the fingers crossed, sure I have as good a chance as everyone else please, please, please call me KI" kinda way (smile).

But in a genuinely "Oh snap, I didn't even get to worry over this one and what a pleasant email to come online to" kinda way.

You know what this means right? Well, aside from the cool notion (cool notions being those that are always handy to have when you're on one of those "I'd rather be doing something else" moments) that this past year has shown me love from Scrapworks, KI Memories, Making Memories and the lovely Effers, to me, this also means more confirmation. No, not that I create cool or great things. Far from that. But confirmation that doing it "just because" is just as fun. It is a lot less pressure. It is tons more rewarding. Not creating for calls. For this, they said you could enter new or old stuff. I entered all old stuff. Didn't ask anyone which pieces I should enter, I just entered some of my faves. No, they were not totally all MM'd out. No they were not totally complicated and technique heavy. They were just my faves. Kinda like the KI album--wasn't all KI'd or Color Theory'd out. Was a bit more complicated and definitely very me--not sugary sappy sweet (cause, honey, though sweet, the sap runneth dry when adulthood showed me the reality light)--but very...I don't know. Just me. Not preachy, but "consider this" debatable. In a very subtle way. You'll see.

But anyhow, I totally digress. So which pieces did I submit? I submitted...14 (You Inspired Me), 12 (Moments) and 7 (Pieces of Her) from the SOY entry I posted here. Check em out. Next internet access moment I'll post links!

So...you don't create anymore?

That is certainly the double edged sword. I do create. TONS. Just so much of it is for assignment and "sneak peaks" are okay but need to be taken down by... I just need to drop the dime and get a high speed card. A whole nother story.

This past week I took so many great pics. And I have so many great kits to scrap with. And so many RAKs to send off. I promise. If I owe you a RAK it will be WELL WORTH THE WAIT. Pinky swear ya.

I have a room full of fun stuff to play with and just no time to sit down and do it. That whole "no sharp objects on the plane thing. But that makes me think. Maybe...just maybe, I'm going to go ahead and pack a scrap bag with me. Take some stuff to have fun with. Especially since I keep using the same stuff over and over with now, I should just take a slight sidebag full of stuff and challenge myself to scrap a layout a day while on the road this week. How fun would that be?

Ambitious. We'll see if we can pull it off!

I did find layout/project 20 by the way. It's a file on the other computer that for the life of me I cannot get to transfer over. Looking back on those traumatic moments, I remember that I had to print it off individually (and then realized that my home printer did AS GOOD a job as shipping everything to Kinkos...live and learn) so I did have 20. If you come by my digs, I'll show it to ya. Or when I get back in again, I'll get a photo. So much to do. Lots of time to do it in, but I'd prefer to go and contact some more mfs for the pub dinner! Boxes are rolling in. It is so friggin' fun!

19 of 20

uhhmmm...19 of 20
Splat

Uhhhm because evidently, I'm an idiot.

20 required...20.

And I can only find 19 of mine.

I hope for the life and love of all sacred I had it together enough to include 20.

I'm sure I did. had to have.

Now I need to go home and look at my actual copy.

Annoying. Almost as much...check that, not nearly as much as it is embarassing.

I'll figure it out. I'm on a mission now!

18 of 20...

18 of 20?

A Rose is a Rose...and then some

I know...I so promised to have it done before I left. So it's only fair I give you two. So...here is the thing.

I have my least fave and one of my faves left. Here's to least fave's to get it out fo the system...

IRL (nope...not at band camp, but in real life) I liked the concept and was going for more. They actually look really cool on my window ledge. BUT...you ask...where is the photo. Took a chance with this one.

There are actually three shadowboxes to this one. One, with a single flower is the first set of roses the current fantastic guy gave me. Alas, I didn't keep the first single rose.

Another set is one rose each from "that relationship". Uh huh.

And the other set is a rose from each significant event in my life--graduations (plural--I have one from high school, one from undergrad and one from grad).

I used to have these all in this really REALLY neat wood bowl. Which I no longer have. It was hard to move coast to coast. Then I had these in a plastic bag. Really not good. And in another shadowbox frame--a gold one. But the collection outgrew it and the white ones really go with the current decor...

so it goes. Not my fave, but growing on me and one of the few entries that actually gets air time now so...you know how it goes.

And as I upload this. I realise that I'm off...gotta find two more after this...hmmm...

Phew!

delivered. @ 10:23 am. see how it all works out when you stop stressing so much?

I so, so SO want to share that album. I cannot. But you're gonna LOVE it. But since I cannot share that, it kinda sorta seems only fair that maybe we take this old school eh? Show you how I USED to scrap?

Yeah right!

In any event, I just did a whole lotta shopping for digi stuff. What? She does digi? Yeppers...when I'm on the road. Which is through the end of the year. I have some paper projects to finish when I get home. Gotta see about taking Thursday off from work (usually we get the day after we get back off) but might just go in later. In the morning, or evening--depending--I'll get the stuff done for the Summer Bash at Scrappin Trends. I hope I'll have my kit for October at Diversity Designs so I can get that done before I hit the road too.

I've got some great ideas for three layouts I want to get done tonight. And I can actually share one (probably two) of them. Fun times!

Be on the lookout and thanks for stressing the postal issue for me so that I could let it go.

Philly is almost over. Check the life blog for why that is a good and a bad thing.

Missent

Is that the post office's way of saying "We messed up"?

Cause they did. Don't know where McKinney, TX is. But I do know where Plano is. In relation to Addison. Thank goodness for insurance in case something was missent and never delivered. Thank goodness for delivery confirmation to know where it is going. Thank goodness for priority mail to make it a bit more "urgent" that they fix that mistake.

Oh heck for not just sending it express or something like that to make SURE it got there in a reasonable amount of time. Breathing. I sent it Friday. Relax. It's Monday night. Everything is fine.

This post brought you from the fantastic town of Philly. And then she said.

Tracking...the numbers

Okay...so we have to track it one more time:

0306 1070 0001 5801 0859

Insured it this time too. Yeah and of course.

So 18 of 20. We're really at the point of "who knows what she posted" and really...it's only 3 more. So I'm going to hold off on that. That way, when I get back on Thursday, I can finish out with Thursday, Friday and a Saturday flutter out with the full 20. Fun times.

So in the scrap world--was asked to do another DT. Coolness. Have to really think on it though. As I get ready to travel, I switch from paper into more digi scrapping. I need to find the site where I can have my handwriting made into a font for my computer. In love with my handwriting nowadays and that has been the stalling factor on me really getting back to digi. But I did just buy a whole lot of elements for the road. Fun times!

Also in the scrap world, got my totally cool Urban Lily Kit for the Summer Bash Round 3. Rocks! Gotta do two layouts and alter my sugar cube. Now to think how I want to do all of the above. Had some ideas looking at the paper. We shall see. Have all sorts of new pics to fall in love with so...there that is.

On the road I hope to finish contacting all the pub dinner sponsors. We shall see how that goes (smile).

Have fun and I hope to be able to check in here a couple of times while out. At the very least I hope to be able to update Colored White and get some Philly photos for the Shots Fired blog. Which reminds me that I need to pack up the baby camera.

17 of 20...or thereabouts...

Okay okay...

17 of 20 SoY Unloved

B:Box

(commentary: see...on the MBs they said it was okay to do non-layout memory related items. But, really, I think all the mini books and non-layout items in my entry did go a bit overboard. Live and learn!)

See now...

"Some folks...they let that win just get all up in their head" is what you are thinking. But really, it is nothing like that.

Totally, TOTALLY psyched cause that number we tracked...remember way back on the 15th of that Other Month...

it totally rocked my world on Friday night. In the midst of making Enchiladas. Green chicken enchiladas to be exact.

It was a funny ring--because it was a blocked call. So, of course I knew who it was. I lept out the couch to get the phone. Only, my phone is a hata. Hata.

I touched the thing and it stopped wringing. Flipped it open and shouted hello for the hood to hear. Yeah...uhm nothing.

Sigh...was probably nothing.

Settle in for some time on :that couch: with :that guy: and the voice mail ring comes on. Okay...I gotta check that.

Open up...tells me it is from a blocked id. Then there are Ira and Kim (in order of apperance for my message) telling me what I was in denial about most of the weekend--

I'm a FinAList! Did you hear me? I'm a FINALIST?

You know what so totally rocks my world about this? Okay...moment of honesty here. It rocks my world that I get an Ipod (smile). Cause that means BF can get me something else for Christmas. Something about 6'6" tall, and warm and snuggly...

but i digress.

Aside from the ipod, what is so totally earth shattering about this to me was that for once, I did what I wanted to do and it worked! I know I know...follow your own style, stop messing on "what you think they want" and all that jazz. I finally followed my own big headed advice and low and behold!

Totally cool.

Cannot wait to share that album. Loved it before the phone call, loved it after the phone call, love it more every day.

Peace out.

16 of 20 right?

We're getting to the point where I don't remember which I have shared

and which I have not...

so don't get crazy if this is up already.

Gently remind me and I'll switch it out (smile).

16 of 20

SoY unloved

Live Your Life

Gotta love the Urban Lily paper!

Lots of really great stuff happening in the scrap life. But...alas...I have to go tend to the sick boyfriend (aka, play hookie).

In brief:

1. Great DT (one I'm already on, don't flip out with the "why didn't you tell me") is going through some changes. Changes I was afraid of at first, but think I might well like. Love it.

2. Tomorrow...heartbreak. But...the good of that is that I can SHARE a really wonderful album I so totally love. If only I could find those pictures. Had a thought about where they might be. Interesting...if not, I'll have to rephotograph and that won't happen tomorrow (or tonight either...patience!)

3. Speaking of album shares, just did another album (which took me forever only because I kept getting bogged down with other stuff). Simplified, simplified, simplified. And so very much love it. Gonna get it and give it back (yeah...I swiped it...and what?!) to the boyfriend this weekend. When we're back on the beach. yeah.

Kay...I like threes so this will throw me off BUT...remember that CK WA Pea Pub Dinner? Yeah...I have a rak that I have to send to Gina cause she guessed correctly--Threee Bugs and Scrapworks. Fun sponsors eh? I just got another confirmation yesterday so we're up to 4 major manufacturers. So totally fun!

That's all the scrap stuff folks...back to the regularly scheduled blogging...right after I stop for my Mc D's yummy.

Messy Share

Blurry...but that is kinda the point.

you can peep it at 2peas (username Imanisasa)

for the journaling details but here it is

As promised...from the Beyond Appearances challenge blog

(that would be www.beyond-appearances.blogspot.com/)

Homestretch

as in...we're in it.

15 of 20 SoY Unloved

Be Friendly

(well, page 2...seems like 1 doesn't want to load)

Out...and it's all good!

So then. I'm out of the Last Scrapper Standing competition with the Dares. And it is such a good thing. They posted dare 3.5 on Thursday night/Friday morning. That knocked me out. I didn't drive to work, didn't have my laptop and the dare required the use of wet media anyhow. So I had about 25 minutes to get something done, photographed and posted because...well...we had the wedding this weekend!

That was fun times...but that is on the other blog.

I am completely fine with not moving on. This last layout was nothing like what I do lately and unlike the other layouts, not something I was really feeling. I LOVE the layout I just did for the Beyond Appearances Blog though...tomorrow...I'll link ya. There are RAKS involved this week ya'll so DEFINITELY get over there and complete a layout.

Got three big name sponsors for the Pub Dinner and two more I'm pretty sure will come on board.

Gina wins! She guessed the two sponsors we had at the time the challenge was posted--Three Bugs in a Rug and Scrapworks. Figured she'd get the second one cause she like only loves her some Scrapworks (and she can rock it at that...check out their blog cause she was a recent winner over there). Why she is not on their DT...beyond me (smile).

Kay...I'll add links to lots of this stuff tomorrow.

Just wanted to get posted here that I'm okay with not moving on. Had lots of really great folks consoling me and I much appreciate it but it there are no regrets for going to the wedding I didn't originally want to go to.

Much love!

Love Share

And yeah I guess it is that time where I share the Last Scrapper Standing Love eh?

Eh.

Here she goes...Round three.

Likely be sitting after this, but it was fun!

Challenge this week was all about the circle--straight lines not allowed.

Gotta love that straight line journaling not so straight though...

WOW...I can do separate titles now?!

14 of 20

Soy Unloved:

You Inspired Me

Guess I fidgeted with the settings enough to actually get there.
Anyhow...what were we at? 14 of 20?
Let's say that is it.

******************THIS JUST IN****************

Oh yeah...so I'm organizing that pea dinner eh? Guess I need to get on creating another blog for that but since it is scrappy related,

I suppose I can update ya'll here.

Got two sponsors confirmed already. Let's just say buggy ya'll and Work it. Post in the comments who you think the two sponsors are and I'll put together a RAK of fantastic stuff from one said sponsor (cause...honestly, I probably have enough of their stuff to fill goodie bags on my own...maybe not) and pick a random winner from those that get the two right.

Good luck!

13 of 20

SoY Unloved

Journey Challenge Flip Book

Coming up close on the homestretch chicas.

Now onto circles...

And for the love of all else!

12 of 20

Soy Unloved

MoMentS

Enjoy the weekend!

11 of 20

SoY Unloved

I'm Not a Lawyer

Happy Friday!

Vicariously. In Texas

10:07 am.

My package arrived in TX. The story and the delivery is there. The color is there. Execution...not so much. So really, have to brace myself for this isn't it either. but it was a great project and now I just have to wrap it up and voila--Christmas present number 1 already done. Love it for that alone (smile).

And in the lovefest of sharing, I leave you with this: deep:

okay...or not. GoTta love Blogger for being there when you need it.

Check it at this link Warning: She's a Heartbreaker.

10 of 20

SoY unloved:

How dO i Love The mini album

Enjoy!

Halfway there!

Almost halfway there...

sharing the love. On the SoY stuff. But really, I have so much more to share. Funny stories too. I think this needs a list and lots of pictures. Brace yourself for my impatience with blogger...

Piece by piece.

Didn't make it to the next round of the Queen of Paradise contest. Honestly...kinda stunned by that one. All the contestants were loving my stuff. Poured my heart into it. Guess it was too depressing. Or I said too much. In any event, I love both of the layouts--one of them got me caught. Online. Typed the journaling and Mr. Google happy went and done found hisself online. And my dreaming all sappy on him. Sigh...I tell ya.

But that Smile layout...money. Love it. Love that little boy. I don't know how people who scrap about their kids can handle the rejection of submitting. Yeah and no.

Anyhow...didn't make it past that round. Will post those layouts momentarily here.

Track it with me now: 0306 0320 0000 7135 0587
Good ole post office this time because unlike most contests, KI isn't trying to put no one into debt over their pipe dreams. Postmark deadline. Still sent it priority mail to TX, but $6.00 sure beats $20 some odd to get something to Utah by the next day.

Act like you don't know what I'm talking about.

I'm sure I'll be sharing that album shortly. Why do I wait last minute on this stuff? Because then I don't have to wait so long for the announcement.

Off to get that Last Scrapper Standing layout done (I HAVE to kick it up a notch from last week) and the rest of the non Scenic Route entry together. Yeah. I go there.

And for tomorrow
Soy 9 of 20:
What New Outfit?!

8 of 20

SoY Unloved:

CraSh!

And then there was this

7 of 20 SoY Unloved:
Pieces of Her

(memory photo project)

A week off...so very sorry about my slackerishness. So...lots of great things to post for your patience.

So there is of course this:

6 of 20
SoY unloved:
Do Something Amazing!

Friday: 5 of 20:

Don't Hide in the Shadows

Thanks for looking! Just uploaded my Round 3 entries at Croppin' Paradise. nothing like some genuine "made me cry" praise to ease the sting of rejection (smile). And to imagine that I finished way before deadline...like a week early. That's what I get for being clueless lately.

KI album--so very loving it. Just need to let go of the fear of my handwriting and finish that out this week. Whoa now the journaling on that one promises to be intense. Been very free flowing and open and honest lately. I like it lots!

And Thursday:

Soy 4 of 20:

[seen layout]

Shopping? What New Outfit...

For Wednesday:

SOY 3 of 20:

Nap Time

Enjoy!

And, in honor of not hater-ating, I have to post another SOY entry:

Here is 2 of 20 (smile).

Trust: The Gift

They posted the list on CK's site so you should check it out. Lots of really REALLY great folks on that list and I'm honored to have even gotten it together to enter. Been doing a lot of reading, self reflection and the like and finally came to see two things:

1. If you want it like that, you have to do it like that Madame revolutionaryist

2. You are you and only you, be true to hold truth.

I've been email debating with the BF this morning. LOVE this life!

Well...as I'm no SoY...you benefit.

I get to post layouts! I think maybe I'll do one a day.

Starting with my fave:

What are you afraid of: Out There

Materials:

Basic Grey pp, Bazzill Cardstock

Heidi Swapp ghost letters

Fancy Pants & Making Memories chipboard (doddle thingy and hearts)

Hero Arts stamp

Colorbox Liquid chalk

staples

trusty sharpie (brown this time...go figure)

acrylic paint

Think you can read the journaling.

1 down...19 more to go.

Wow...something to post about daily and pics to go with it!

Maybe we'll make it through August yet!

Well...when one door closes, another opens. No SoY...(really...REALLY...truly) but did get that other opportunity. I get to be on the DT for As the World Scraps. Totally psyched because it is ALL about scrapping other people's pictures through your own lens. This is exactly what I do more times than not. When I'm scrapping for "myself" I am scrapping other people. This will be so absolutely amazingly cool.

And for being good kidos, I have to post a layout:

You can read the journaling and be sure to check out the amazing

Beyond Appearances Challenge Blog!

Sigh. Grin! Can't wait to get home and get back to that other project!

EGADS!!!

Wow. WOW! Gotta a really GREAT opportunity come my way. Creating the way I create for a cause I care for. This blows me over that I get to do this. I'm so excited I need to back away from the computer before I say something I'm not supposed. Promise that soon as I get the okay...I'll spill it!

**ETA...sob...not till tomorrow. If I had not checked that thread over there, I wouldn't have known and could just go about my life already. But I would have so stupidly posted my LO's online. So it's a good thing.**

***And I just saw something way cool pop into my email...another post becons...***

Soy...whatcha waiting for? Calls of course. End of today, we should know who made finalists. Dream come true. That would SO be a dream come true. And then some.

But in equally eventful news...made it to the next round for all of the obnoxious links I left you to browse in the last post. And now I have to get up the nerve to show BF said winning los. Winning because so many folks have been touched by it. I was touched by it (smile). Anyhow...check it out from the last post. I'll check in tomorrow to whine the heartbroken dream but in the meantime...

Till tomorrow.

Phew...just been scrappin' away.

No...not for that pretties...for just basic deadlines. Doing stuff I love for folks I love and inspiring a soul or two along the way. I just did an interview (stay tuned!) that really got me thinking about why I do what I do and how I do it. Just plain goodness.

So... I did realize that I have not gotten to share a whole bunch of stuff lately because of various reasons.

So...how about I link you over to them instead? Okay. Now...on this place here: {ScrappinTrends} I made it to the final round and get to play with some really fun Urban Lily goodies such as this:

You can check out my sketch layouts from assignment 2
{Life Is Unscripted} and {Chatty Gal}.

In other contests, I just finished my upload to Round 2 of the Queen of Paradise contest. You can check out the Contest Rules for Round Two

and then peep my A-Z layout and my 10 Things layout.

Phew...lots of linking there...

What else have I been up to? Oh...I suppose I could link you to my Round 1 layouts from both contests too:

Scrapping Trends, Round 1 of Summer Bash:
{What are You Afraid Of?}

Croppin Paradise, Round 1 of Queen of Paradise:
{Famous Last Words}

{If I could Turn Back Time Left}

{If I could Turn Back Time Right}

Okay! The rest is DT and whatnot

Life is:

Wonderful. Of course!

I got so much great news this past week I can barely STAND it! One piece that I can share...remember these:

Well they were in the Innovator Showcase at CHA: Chicago AND she displayed one of them in her booth. How cool is that? Some folks are saying they got nibles and hits off of their cards and the like. And that a certain manufacturer actually asked to see someone's shoe up close! How cool is that for the designer? I'm just so happy to have had the opportunity to do the work and to have done a good enough job on it to get it showcased. Totally ROCKS!

Then...something I don't think I can so much share but I can say be on the lookout for the December Making Memories Magazine. Awesome! A toot I never knew how to pursue, but less been pursued to do. What an awesome email to wake up to and such a fantastic individual to work with. Okay...saying so much and nothing at all...December MM mag.

The chatter is heating up for the KI contest (just about done with that album) since the DL is August 15 and of course there is less than a week before we find out the 10 finalists for the SOY contest. What an honor it would be but really...really.

Got quite a few deadlines to hit this week so...off I go.

Oh yeah...some of the best news of all? You have to check out www.diversitydesigns.net. Check out that chica on the "cover" (smile).

Diversity Designs peek:

What do I do over there?

Well I design things like this:
and this:
and most recently, this:

That last one is a sneak peek of what's to come on the 15th my pretties! Okay. I promise. No More "my pretties".

It cannot have been like 10 days since I have posted. Nope...that would be blogger acting a fool. No need to worry my pretties...massive update for ya.

Okay...so what have you been up to missy? Well, for one, I created these:

Happy 4th of July!!

Catch them live and in living color at CHA in Chicago! Holey Soles booth...or who knows...maybe they'll make the Innovator's showcase. A gal can dream... oh and yeah. Likely wouldn't want to set them upon your feet...unless you like acupuncture.

Surely, you cannot have JUST decorated up a pair of shoes you note. Well...of course I did more than that. The pictures are not the hottest, but for the happening, crisp pictures, you should take your pretty little self over to www.diversitydesigns.com (yeah, I could give you a cool link with just the name instead of the ugly url, but really. They'll be up on the 15th ish. Find them on the board in the many places our layouts hide. Oh yeah...the pics. That would be in the next post dears...

There

It got "there"

All for this:

Priceless.

How much did it cost me? Do you really want to know? Keep in mind that the materials costs pretty much include my scrap budget for the last two months since everything I bought (but not everything was used) was with SOY in mind. That said:

CK SBOTY contest.
materials for 20 layouts: $197.00
Kinkos color copies on 10 pt glossy cover stock 67.00
Patent Leather Portfolio for said color copies 11.00
2 Day Fed Ex to Bluffdale, UT 19.00

Finally coming up off it and entering this amazing contest Priceless!!

Stay tuned for the KI Memories tally. That album is coming out AMAZINGLY. I had to tie myself down to focus on SBOTY instead of tinkering on that one. I had half a thought to finish it and enter it as one of my 20 projects but then I woke up and realized I wanted to give it the time it deserved. All in the details my pretties.

8560 2968 4654

Track it with me now. FedEx. Two day. Be there by Thursday afternoon. I am so happy with the way it turned out it moved me to tears. I cannot believe I actually pulled it off. I want to jump up and down and scream. Now, I won't say the whole "I don't have a shot in hell" because, well, everyone has a shot right? Well, everyone who enters and the like.

I love my essay. Love my portfolio. Love my work, but...

This is such a huge dream. To be able to travel the world telling and hearing stories and getting creative in how we document our legacies. I would fall out my chair and hit the floor if I made even an honorable mention. Heck, if my portfolio even made enough of an impact to make it into a "table shot" of all the neat things they received. But if...check that WHEN (positive thinking...that's the only way I'll make it through this) I make Top 10!

Whoa...hold on sista!

I'll post photos of said entry later this week. Well, pieces of it that is (smile).

I'm such a tease...I know, I know...

Guess who...

Just finished up a fantastically smashing portfolio for about 20 items? (hint, hint)
Has one last Kinko's run to pick up said essay and title strips to finish the portfolio?
Has only to stick it in the box, address it and ship it on off already?

Know what I'm talking about? I love soybeans...pictures on the next update...

Fun toys!

I bought this:


yesterday at the Paper Zone bag sale. It was 30% off. So of course I bought extra little tag citcles and squares and rectangles. Oh my. Hey...I have some neat pictures to make into tags. It was all about the packaging. I saw the above and said to myself "Self, you really don't use tags that much to justify this."

Then I flipped it over and there was a picture of someone cutting out a small portion of a black and white photo and making THAT into a tag. I know...I never use my QK had tool either but...really. I almost bought an alpha for that. Yeah...and I said ALMOST.

What else did I buy you ask? Never mind that I got out spending a MERE $55 (that is good self control for those not in the know). What is most important is that I spent said money MOSTLY (not entirely, cause it is me after all) on stuff that is reusable. See the picture above.

Other reusable purchases--I bought some cool clear stamps--alpha set and NOT Technique Tuesday. Shhhh...don't tell anyone. I needed a relatively small set that I could color in. All for that KI colorful album. Couldn't help it.

I guess I'm back on the Making Memories train as well. I went into the place looking for those oldschool clear travel stickers. With travel quotes.

Couldn't find them. But I DID find some really cool MM foam flower stamps. And, of course, the tool above.

All said and done right? Well...uhhmmm. I also just bought a non (well, not really) scrap toy. It was a present for getting my column done. Check it on the Colored White blog.

Guess what?

Okay...so I need to count.

15 when I'm not looking at the floor. 4 more ideas. I constantly have to remind myself--it is NOT what they are looking for. It is who you are. You are unique, so rock it.

One is an ambitious project for a weekend. Well...not really. But really.

Time to start taking pictures and assembling. The writing is not an issue. which reminds me. Column due in t-minus 2.5 hours. Uggh. Uninspired. Gotta love it.

I committed. Now I need to be committed.

Over on the Creating Keepsakes MB, I said to Erin "sure gal. you throw down the challenge, I'll bite."

So less than 20 days to get a Scrapper of Year entry together. I have a neat idea for how to get it done. I have 12 layouts done. I have three projects that I can throw in. I have two more projects half done that I can finish. That means three actual more projects/layouts. I have a couple of events this weekend and next. I think I might have another project I can include (I fluctuate between having 7 and 8 seen layouts that are currently in my entry). Think I just might do that. We shall see. I really want to get everything done this weekend so it can be assembled by Monday. Shipped by Monday after that. I can do it. Really...I can.

Especially if I get off of here. Not about winning because chances are very slim. But it is about being happy with what I do as a scrapper AND moving beyond the "should of haves".

Peace out.

Well if it ain't just me!

Got a toot for www.Scrapstreet.com mag. Now that place is cool to beyond cool. Lots of stuff to get lost in for hours on end. Their online mag is fantastic. Got a call for a birthday tradition layout I did and it just might make the cover! It does get pubbed regardless so I'm doing the happy dance over that. {ETA: Didn't make the cover, but here's the layout!}



Banged out some fantastic Diversity Designs projects for the June kit. Ya'll watch out now and head on over there (www.diversitydesigns.net check the monthly inspiration tab).

Nothing like some shameless plugs.

Just submitted an application for a really cool looking kit club design team. Though I'm not much of a fan of competition (I'm honest!!) I AM a fan of sharing really cool stuff. So check THEM out at www.scrappygiraffekits.com . {ETA: Didn't make the team, but their kits still rock the house!}

Okay...I promise. Enough enabling for one day.

Off to scrap some more!

KIss Me Happy...

You know what I love about huge contests? I always get this notion that I'm going to enter. I buy all sorts of product. Make all sorts of plans. Plot all sorts of "so not me" projects. Which is interesting because in a regular moment, I use the stuff ANYHOW, in my regular life. Just that I tend to use it with other products instead of as just one manufacturer showcased so that doesn't go so well in DT competitions, etc.

Anyhow.

I started this project for the KI album contest. With their Color Theory line. I like the line. Don't love it. Or I should say didn't love it. Probably still don't love it. But do very much like the colors of all things KI--from the pastels to the muted to the much more bold color theory line, I'm liking it.

So one night, I woke up with this grande scheme of what I would be doing with this here contest. I absolutely ADORE my book so far. I love that it is really me. Love that it is really special. But everyone creates something special. So just because I think my topic is dear and close to my heart, it is indeed a bit non-standard and doesn't have huge audience appeal. Overthinking the contest has lead me to slowly (but surely) come back around to what I like and what is important to me.

Lovely. Love it. Can't wait to more fully get this out and done because regardless of the outcome of it, I'm going to give it away. Because most of the products I got to create this were given to me. I so love what I've done and thought and come to with this and though I love KI, I love them moreso for pushing me to create this great album. No hard feelings, but I may not enter my album because I love it so much. But I'll definitely share it.

Here's to contests that get you creating from the heart again!

A bit of love right on time. I think that's what I am working on for my latest, greatest, starting to consume my life project. I never want to put it down. I just adore what I'm doing. It's going very off course--I had some specifics to work with and I've done that, but it is really getting out of hand and brimming with amazingness unexpected. It will be another of those "love this myself" even if no one else does. Well, that's a lie. It is a gift so SOMEONE better love it. And I am sure he will. He loves stuff like this. Thing is, I may keep it myself and he can come and look at it from time to time (smile). I can play nice...

And....not. They don't love me but that's okay. I'll still horde their paper (smile).

Working feverishly on a project that I'm falling more and more in love with. And there are DT projects to get done for Diversity Designs. And BF is going to get a computer up and running for me (laptop is dead...and photos too...thank goodness most were backed up and I've had no camera in forever)...

Okay...time to work. Or something.

And on Urban Lily. Love them.

Adore them. Call me okay? Yeah...I know...loooooooong shot. But, I so love their papers. Particularly since I can cut them, slit them, sand them, jewel them...oh I could go on and on. I love how I can create works of art with them. I love how I can create giftable pages with them. I love how i can give it away to folks who totally adore and appreciate the goodness. I love how it photographs well, stands out from the crowd and blends in when needed.

The DT will be posted tomorrow. Not much of a shot as I figure they had hundreds of entries, but as you can see...I'll work me some UL. And I love it. And...yeah...my number is (360) 970-19...

yeah.

Treats for my patient pretties. Here is half my entry. There's another layout and a project I also had to submit.

"We Will Cry"

Return of the original photos. This is from my wedding *what?~! you were married??* and hence the title/journaling. I couldn't scrap these in forever because it was such a bittersweet moment. Then the write papers came along and well... UL papers, Scrapworks and 7Gypsies ribbon, Darice rhinestones and poetry word beads and Making Memories Rub Ons.

"Nap Time"

Bit more traditional. My nephew would never take his nap until you counted down from 6. I sliced into the UL patterned paper, used an SEI art iron on, Lil Davis bubble word and background and wood numerals, Making Memories and Maya Road ribbon and Technique Tuesday Functuation. Also Lil Davis Foreign Exchange alphas.

Enjoy!

But you ARE a finalist!

Now I didn't know whether I should be happy or sad or flustered at this point. The laptop is goners. Have to reboot and hope that helps, but I'm 99% sure it's a dead harddrive. I heard the clicks of death the other day. I started it find to transfer photos. First it tried to tell me I didn't have a writable drive. My arse.

Then it wouldn't do anything. So I shut down. Went to restart, it said "yeah...maybe not"

Anyhow, I'm beyond that. Have most of my pics, lost alluva my digi stuff. So very flustered over that. Live and learn--catalog your holdings since most of those things I could probably go back and redownload...if only I knew where they were. Sigh.

But the good news! Luda is going to be at Summer Jam. So kidding. So kidding. He will be, but I gives half a care about that. Especially since I saw...never mind.

Good news is that I made the finalist round at ScrapStreet for the digi scrapping contest. $50 first prize to the store...$25 to second and even $15 in digi scrap goodies would make me feel a bit better now. I tell ya...life can be hard. Good thing of it is that you are only allowed to use their kit for this last round. Yeah! And it was FREE! So I might actually get to do this one!

In the meantime, check out the may blossoms at Diversity Designs. The design teams are rocking the house if I might say so myself. And I might...(say so, myself, that is...)

Yooooooou're OUT!

Alas.

Didn't make it past Round 2. And since no one and their mama (or their mama for that matter as well) visits my blog, I can put up a few treats for you here. Here was the militant post that got me axed:

Enjoy!

{ETA: http://www.digiscrappin.biz/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6376&cat=500&ppuser=3288 for the full view...}

Round 2...of the best scrap contest eva! And I made it. Imagine that! Now I needa complete a page about me. Should be easy which means I should be eliminated this round. 200 in it now...100 will be dropped. But the pages are amazing! I was showing them to my landlord and he was pretty amazed. I of course told him he could do this too and set him to scrapping. Like anyone can ever say no to me...well...not and feel good about it (smile).

By the by...Martha Stewart and Fran D (won't even attempt to spell her name) are making a very NASTY looking cocktail. And my WORD the alcohol they are pouring in it. Talk about product placement and it's like not even 9:30 in the morning (here at least) and they're drinking! The heck?? Watermelon and rum and what in the world? I'm noticing that they are not taking a sip...let's see if they do on the out to commercial. YES!! She just took a sip. Crazy. What is this world coming to??

You know I'm so joking, but still a bit shocked. But I am hungry so time to eat, scrap, send raks and cards. Mama's day is almost here and I'm so very happy that there are 4 *yes FoUr!!* special mama's in my life! My mama (who is absolutely amazing), my BF's mama (who is four shades of amazing), my sister (who is ghetto fabulous amazing) and my new sister in law who I have never met but who just produced my baby brother's FIRST baby...a boy of course (smile). Oh yeah...neva met her but she's amazing with two snaps because she's doing it to it with her two little babies while her man is away in the Gulf. Fun times with military life. At least he's not in Iraq. Thank the Lord for small miracles...

Yes...she does.

So I asked...fun times. She was funny as all get out and smart to boot. What a woman that former Sec'y of state...

Madeleine...do you...

I wonder if Madame Albright scrapbooks? I'll ask her tonight and let you know...

Off to see the former Sec'y of State then home to scrap away. I have a lovely little soiree coming up that I'd love to share my pictures at. It is always such a fantastic way to get people talking--break out some art, get some opinions, relish in the memories and then SUCK THEM IN! Get them to start doing it too!

Works like a charm every time. They never see it coming (smile).

On to covert some more boys into scrappers...

Whoa now...

Who DO you think you are? If you stop pushing and wait patiently, she'll sign your book already aight?

Aight.

Yeah right.

But.....


...guess who is pubbed? In a book? That you can buy? At a real store? A real (very comercial) bookstore? As in walk in and say "Do you have Scrap City" only to be told...why yes we do ma'am.

Well, at least they do in Seattle. Downtown. Big time!

I'm in the new, awesome, fantastic Scrap City book. Not that I'm all that, but the artists in that book...definitely all that.

And on June 29th, there's a book release party in NYC for it. Yeah...I'm so there. If I were not so poor. Maybe I'll take a collection. Maybe I'll ebay my soul away so I can go. Just to get to say, yeah, I traveled to NYC to pimp myself in the most scrapalicious of ways...

Rock on with it. Go'n and lean with it.

I'm giddy...can you tell? I went back to the hood for a moment.