I scrapped my collapsible arm chair

The arm chair before...

And after!

The dog tags attached to the frame say "beat, " "the", "heat" 

Products used: black fabric, Wrights iridescent medium rick rack, American Crafts white thickers, Versamark embossing ink, Stampin' Up heat & stick powder, Glick ultra fine Primsa glitter, UTEE, Prima rhinestone swirls, black button unknown, Autumn Leaves black brad, Ranger stickles, flowers (I think) from Hobby Lobby, AdTech hot glue.

So now I can watch fireworks in style!

Holiday Hybrid

This is for my fellow scrappers in Circle Journal #7 over at Paperclipping.com. We all are to do a layout of "Holiday Moments," however we interpret that. I overcomplicated this simple task by finally doing a LO that I've wanted to do for years and doing it hybrid. Well, my computer (and my skills) are not equipped to do digi, so after various programs and versions, I was able to come up with the image below. It's now at Color Inc., and when I get the prints, I'll scrap it up with a 3D surprise, mail them out, and post the final here. So CJ7, thanks for your patience, and thanks, Sandy, for coordinating.

Happy Birthday, Lillian Grace!

My best friend's "baby" is one year old today! Here's a recent layout to prove that I have been scrapping. Can you believe that all these photos were taken on my iPhone, indoors, without a flash?

July flew by without a single blog post. Bad blogger! If anyone is interested, I've been doing lots of little things: painting the old scrap room, organizing the new one; gardening, which really equates to watering the dying plants; learning what I can about SEO (search engine optimization), sepecially since the release of Bing and the whole scary Microsoft/Yahoo thang; pouting that I didn't get to go to CHA but pumped that Noell & Izzy are doing such a great job capturing the show; seeing positive effects of yoga and twice-weekly muscle power; oh, and becoming one with QuickBooks and customizing reports.

School starts soon, so Joseph is trying to enjoy what's left of summer. He's in the water at every chance and earned two first place ribbons at BeachFest. Apparently, he's quite the runner. Basketball Camp was this week, and next week he's at Camp Thurman. Then it's orientation week at his new school. Uh, there goes summer!

Back from GASC Arlington: Pics & Thoughts

I thought this LO was too cute not to post right away. This is one of two one-page LOs from the Queen & Co. Flower Power class, designed Jennifer Parks. When my sister showed me the kids' spring portrait, Gregory's green shirt was a perfect match for the Coordinations "grass". The bling and felt embellies are Queen & Co., and I added some touches of color-matching Stickles.

Not my style, but it's just too cute to pass up!

Needless to say, I also stocked up on my Stickles, picked up the coveted

Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch and this cool tool and its Little Sis from Creek Bank Creations. 1/2" Sanding Stick with rotating Belt (big Bro).

I also brought home Rusty Pickle from helping Kim, Libby and Jill set up the booth on Wednesday.

Thursday I did make & takes (stay & plays, as I like to call them) at Piggy Tales, but spent most of Friday in the booth on my feet.

Observations:

• Huge array of consumers, some who came to the stay & play, didn't have knowledge of basic techniques, like sanding. Many said it was their first time at a scrapbooking convention. Some were overwhelmed and enjoyed sitting to do a relatively simple project. See, there are plenty of beginners out there, we're just not reaching them.
• It was quiet! Thanks to the Crop-A-Dile, eyelet setters - and the banging noise that accompanied them - are a thing of the past.
• Convention classes are not teaching experiences; they are assembly sessions.
• People said the Piggy Tales Academy (kit club) was appealing to them because they no longer had a LSS near them. The monthly opt-out program also has the benefit of alerting you to what is in the kit so you can collect and print your photos by the time your kit arrives!

I'm hoping to go to CHA and CKC San Marcos. Don' t know how, but that's all details! Until then, I've got some scrapping to do!

Recent Projects

Tomorrow is Art Walk at Joseph's school. His 5th grade class does not have art class because of their schedule. So in order for them to participate, I raided my stash and led a card-making session. His class made plenty of greeting cards to sell to raise money for needed supplies. Here are some cards I made in preparation:

Joseph's birthday party thank you cards and variations thereof...


Thank you card for Jeyn at Piggy Tales, using their lovely Bête (Beast) Glitter Paper...


Polka dots chipboard from Prima Say It With Crystals packaging...


Here's another way to use your scrapbooking supplies. I used Karen Foster Design paint circles paper and alphabet stickers for "Art Walk", then scanned it in to Picasa 3. Straighten, enhance, add text and voila! A hybrid logo for our event!

It's Birthday Week! Let's Go Font Shopping!

Yes, my son turns eleven on Thursday.
(Insert Spinal Tap line here: "It goes up to eleven")
Sorry. Had to do that.

Anyway, a small party at Schlitterbahn is planned for Saturday. Here is the invitation:


Other than white cardstock and Color Box Creamy Brown Chalk Ink and my HP Photoprinter, all I needed were some cool fonts. And Score! I found one of my favorite rub-on alphas in a font: Go Boom is a dead ringer for Karen Foster Designs' calendar alphas, which are no longer available. The blocked font is Starguides. Some other free fonts I downloaded on my recent trip to dafont:

Cake

3Dumb & 2Dumb

BradburySans Light



Sometimes all it takes is a quick "shopping trip" to the font shop to curb the desire to spend money. Consider it a scrapbooker's alternative spending plan!

MDF Initials

I scrapped these real quick for Christmas gifts for all the kids.

Published Work

For a scrapbooker, getting published is a mark of honor. I remember first time I submitted, on whim, and my submission was selected. "A Good Day Shopping" appeared in a Memory Makers idea book on 3D embellishments...when 3D embellishments were made, not manufactured! I must say, my layouts that are selected for publication tend to be the ones that I did when I was "in The Zone," the place where creativity flows without thinking, without effort. I strive to be in The Zone on every layout, every card, every project. Below are some of my published favorites.

"My Son Has Planned a Work of Art"
Memory Makers
Celebrating Holidays Scrapbook Style Idea Book


"HOG"
Memory Makers
Scrapbooking Your Adult Years Idea Book




"First Tooth"
Carson Dellosa
Memorabilia Matters Scrapbook Idea Book




"Grandma's Letters"
Carson Dellosa
Memorabilia Matters Scrapbook Idea Book


"Sink Bath"

Scrapbook Trends Magazine

Cards with Piggy Tales

Loving the Piggy Tales double-sided cardstock! Makes it uber easy to make cards!