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.