Scrapping Secrets

I am starting a monthly contest for followers of this blog. They might be challenges, word games, or I might even ask you to contribute ideas. Each month I will post the contest and give 7 days for entries, then I will select a winner and they will receive various CTMH product for FREE!

This month's contest is to complete the following phrase, make sure it is creative and true to those in the scrapping-world.

"As a scrapper, sometimes I secretly..."

Make sure your response is left in the comments section of the blog.

The prize package is valued at about $10, and includes 1 mini stamp set, 1 clear shapes embellishments, and 1 olive green stamp pad.

I can't wait to see your responses, and tell your friends. Remember, you must be a follower to participate!

Document Like Never Before...EVER!

As I was cleaning out my scrapping room yesterday, I found the stack of pictures from various events that didn't "make the cut" to be on a 12x12 layout for my kids' albums. I flipped through them and thought of how much they had grown and how special they were. Then I was struck with a realization. This stack of pictures would be shoved in a box and set aside, probably not to be seen again until I was dead since my kids will have their personal libraries of albums to reflect upon and share with their posterity.

But what stuck with me most was that through the genealogical work of my mom I have access to a handful of pictures of my ancestors. We on the other hand, are raising a generation of kids who will be the most well documented group of humans in history...EVER. Moments that were impossible to catch 100 years ago, or even 30 years ago are being recorded. Take for example the ultrasound pictures we all take for granted, or how many of you moms photographed or even kept your positive pregnancy tests! I even kept the tape from the monitor for my contractions during labor!

During spring break, my mom and I sifted through old family pictures. And I loved seeing her as a kid (mostly to make fun of her horn-rimmed cat-eye glasses at age 3!) but what I found fascinating was that the limited number of pictures were all posed, standing looking dead into the camera. Whereas, I have hundreds and soon to be thousands of pictures that are not a portrait one. The snapshot is the new historical record of our children. Without the limitations of film, we can shoot 300 pictures of a birthday party and not even hesitate to print half of them off! We take pictures and movies of our kids on our phones and then post them across the globe.

This amazing and historical record keeping method is something of which you should take full advantage. Make sure your family's history isn't left out of the monumental social record that will be looked upon and researched 100's of years from now. So ladies, get out your pictures and all that paper...get in that room and SCRAP!

1-2-3 Challenge

This week's challenge was to use 1 stamp, 2 pieces of patterned paper, and 3 embellishments. I liked this one, but really felt more challenged by the color challenge last week.


I used B&T paper from the Twitterpated Level 2 Kit and then the Adoration stamp set. I embellished with a hinge and the photo corners by CTMH. The ribbon is the only non-CTMH product, and I would love to give credit to the brand, but can't do so since I have had it forever on a spool and don't remember where I got it!

This is it!

This is my first page for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge. Most of the other entries are cards, I wonder if that was part of the rules? Hmmm. I am only about 50% in love with this page. But, hey you got to start somewhere right?

Because I don't have enough on my plate!

I am going to give this a shot, maybe you should too!

http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/

What's Holding you back?

This PRO-365 has offered me a realization that I am not the uber-organized scrapper I thought I was. I find that I have 15 projects going on at any time and what I have self diagnosed as a case of paper-crafting A.D.D. But on the upside of that is, that I am never bored when I enter my little lair of stickers, chipboard, and stacks of "can't live without it" 12x12 paper.

I have only "scrapped" January 1 thru Feb 14! Can you believe it, me the "organizer" of this whole project?!!?!? Gee, that's embarrassing. Yet, last night, I recommitted once again to get this show on the road. I ordered the last week of Feb. and all of March from Shutterfly and I am on the road to recovery.

So what I pose to you, is what is holding you back from your memory preservation mission? And don't blame your kids!

I do have to share with you one of my new favorite tools for this project, it is a stamp with the days of the week and seasons of the year. It is made by 7 Gypsies and I got it for about $5!

I also had to post the adorable goodies that have been distracting me! They are for my dear friend Landi's baby shower next weekend. I used the Twitterpated set by Close to my Heart, that included the colors of Sweet Leaf, Sorbet and Chocolate. I was pretty pleased with the way everything turned out!

Finally!

I am making progress on my book. I have all my pics ordered, three months into the year now, but hey, I took them right. The only hiccup so far (other than my procrastination) is the week's worth of pics I accidentally erased from my memory card...ooops. I left a space on the days that I don't have pics, and I plan to just do some decorative stuff on those pages.

So far I have only one product to peddle and it is the double stick letters/numbers set I ordered from Staci Barcuch. It is the numbers "365" on my cover page, I glittered them and adored the way they turned out. They are a Stampin' Up product and can be ordered from Staci or Angel Coughlin. They were super cheap too!

Check it out!

I am sooo behind

Well I have officially accomplished almost nothing on my 365, here I am organizing away for you but my life has gotten the best of me. Between sick kids, and an aching back, I haven't seen the inside of my scrapping room since early January!

What I am hoping to hear from you girls is that all is going well and you are kicking my butt on this project. I will continue to take pics and maybe one day I will get them up here!

So what I want is all of you to tell me what you have done so far and send lots of pics!

Happy February Ya'll!

Well it looks like that darn groundhog saw it's shadow again this year! Do you think it could have anything to do with all those cameras and reporters there that make him run away and hide? On the brighter side of 6 more weeks of winter, is that you will be locked up in your house with nothing better to do than SCRAP!!!! That is right, when it gets all warm you won't be in your scrapping room, so work away while the temperatures are still frigid.

Our kick off for the 365 at En Sueno was superb! Thanks Becky for your hospitality. We look forward to our next visit. Ladies, let me know if you are interested in a full weekend get away in May. I plan on leveraging the trip as a Mother's Day gift so Justin will be more apt to cooperate.

Believe it or not, I got hardly any 365 work done! My best laid plans of adding the dates to my photos via Shutterfly backfired when I had to print them off last minute at Target! But as soon as my back is well enough to sit in a chair I will have pics up for all of you to see. I was so proud of Addie for getting all her 4x6 cards stamped that night, and Staci I can't wait to see your PRO-52, wink wink!

Here is a link to a fun little project I saw on our CTMH ideas bulletin. This lady is so talented!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4dLzanz55g

Also, I am going to complete a CTMH order next week, so if there is anything you see that you need let me know. PS--They are doing a promo fundraiser for Haitian relief---TEXTURED CARDSTOCK COMBOS--BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! And don't forget the versatile STAMP OF THE MONTH, I had to get one for myself!

Coffee Talk

Need a pick-me-up for a late night crop? I think I might have found the answer to that little coffee company based out of seattle's yummy drinks. For those of you like me who live all to far from one of those joints, try this next time:

Brew your coffee as normal, maybe even a little strong ( we use dunkin donuts @ our house)

Add 2 tsp of your favorite flavored creamer (I use fat free vanilla caramel)

Then 2 pkgs of your desired sweetener (I use sugar in the raw)

Finally, a heaping scoop of FROZEN cool whip on top! Refrigerated melts too fast and acts as a second creamer, but the frozen stays on top for a frothy treat!

Then after your sugar/caffeine rush...GET TO SCRAPPIN!

Kick Off Official Plans!

Ok Ladies, Sat. Jan 23 @ En Sueno Bed and Breakfast in Hobbs! Thank you to our dear friend(and proprietor of the B&B) for giving us a special discounted rate for $60 per room. I am looking to split one with whoever (I don't snore ;)) So I guess we will start taking RSVPS ASAP...thanks ya'll!--c

We are through day 7 ladies! Good job! I can't wait to see what everyone has taken pictures of! This is last call on a couple things: #1 Hostess club 2010, I have 2 seats left on this one. #2 Kick off Party: I need to know who, when , and where from ya'll. Becky, I think Staci had suggested an over-nighter at the b&b. I think the 23rd of Jan would be best. I haven't had any input other than that. Ladies, I don't mind organizing this, but I really need some help to know who can be there and when.

Can't wait to see all your fabulous work!--c

Hostess Club Anyone?

I hope you are off to a great start on your 365. Today would be a good day to upload your first 5 pics, get them into one folder on your desktop and then title them each by day. If you have already missed a day, don't treat this like a diet and give up! Just skip it and when you put your pages together, you can write the date, and maybe what you were so busy doing as to why you forgot to take a picture that day.

I know some of you might already be involved in such a thing, but this is a good way to earn some freebies!

I would like to start a hostess club, I think if we all commit to order $30 in product every other month, we can do 5 ladies. If we have more, then we can increase the frequency or split orders. This is how it works:

Each odd month (Jan,March, May, July and Sept) each of us will order $30 in product. The hostess for that month will receive the free product for their pre-determined month. I planned it for 5 ladies and to end in Sept. so it doesn't run into the holiday season.

We don't have to have a party each month, you will just be able to order from the Idea Book directly.

In addition, each participant will get a free accent pack each month, and a petite perks stamp set at the end of the season. I will also do a card kit for each lady to send with your order, so you will have a little project to enjoy after each order.

Marvelously Ordinary

Ok, we are on day 2 of our 365! I just want to reassure you that this will be a great experience and this will not become something to drag you down. It will hopefully become a blessing of sorts, that will give you perspective into your everyday life and even help you to focus on the simple pleasures in your family and appreciate the world around you.

I wanted to recommend a few products that I plan on using and that may make this easier for you. I can place an order before we do our kick off party if you are interested. That way you will have all your stuff ready to assemble at the party. You can view these items online at www.closetomyheart.com , you will need to go to the products tab, then to the Online Idea Book

Comments Stamp Set (pg 68)
Frame of Mind Stamp Set (pg 69)
Note Worthy Stamp Set (pg 69)
Save The Date Stap Set (pg 77)
Photo Storage Pages (pg 90)

Also, any Level 2 paper kits would be great if you are wanting to do a coordinating theme and book, there are several at the front of the Idea Book and then the coordinating inks, markers and papers are on pgs 100-101