Poor Neglected Blog

It's become so much easier to just avoid the poor page than to look at it and think about all the things I want to say that I just can't put to paper (so to speak).

I've been busy doing absolutely nothing! Nothing looks like this:

Click here for credits

IF I were smart, I'd have remembered to make a copy of the page together so you could picture it as it were side by side. Oh well. :) THAT has been my "nothing" summer. It's a little misleading though... there was A LOT more Disney than that batch of photos shows. :)

1. Colby eating ribs at TGI Fridays for Sarah's birthday
2. Sarah, Shyleen & Colby at Fridays
3. Liam eating a s'more at the beach
4. Matthew with Miss Maggie at the beach
5. Yippy Skippies ride again (Matthew, Allen, Jaana, Blaine, me)
6. Liam at the beach
7. Avon Walk closing with Malia
8. Avon Walk dinner at Wellness Village
9. Catalina Island
10. 75% of the Shelley family
11. Trena singing fireside
12. Maggie is very cold
13. Someday I'll get into Club 33. For now, I dream.
14. Amy & Byron
15. Fireworks over Disneyland
16. The cousins at Amy's wedding
17. Miss Delilah making a silly face
18. Pretty momma and baby girl
19. Silly girl!
20. Maggie with her daddy on her first 4th of July
21. Another pretty momma and baby girl
22. Event Eve for Avon Walk
23. Old Friends
24. Chad's birthday
25/26. Disneyland with the girls

NOW I must go to bed. I've been picking at this layout for a week and finally finished it, so I needed to post it while I was thinking of it. :)

All for you Treen, happy? ;)

Getting back to basics

I've been digi-scrapping this week. I can't really go into details as the intended recipients of my fruits read here, but I will post photos as soon as I can. (I know I say that a lot, and never do, but I'm so excited to actually POST something that I'll actually DO it!)

So, in the spirit of my newly rediscovered muse I'll just share what's been going on in my scrapping brain.

I haven't been able to scrap much, digitally or paperly for about a year now. My external hard drive had an ugly "incident" which included the possible loss of GIGS of photos, music, and digi-scrap supplies. It's made me too sick to think about, let alone scrap. So, for the last just-over-a-year I've been putting my pictures onto my laptop (remember the Green Fairy?) and as our Internet is only cooperating with ONE computer I've been using my 1 GB flash ("Pixie Dust") to go back and forth between uploading to Facebook and storing on the Fairy.

All this just to say that I've been basically OUT of the scrapping loop for quite awhile now. I have no idea what new designers are out there really, nor do I know what the current trends include. I've just been reading my emails from Gina Miller (when they came) and Shabby Princess and occasionally buying a kit here & there from Sweet Genevieve or whomever struck my fancy when a really interesting kit/item/tool blipped on my radar. No Digi Shop Talk or ANYTHING.

I have no idea HOW I stumbled upon Britt-ish Designs but I immediately loved her stuff. She's a Disney freak AND she makes cute stuff. Her association with Scrap Matters has led me to other new designers... lots of cute stuff on that site folks! They've got a really nice gallery for inspiration as well.

I took TONS of fun pics at Disneyland last summer, and will continue to abuse my pass holder status this summer, so I plan to have many more. So NATURALLY I was even more excited when Britt's blog featured a Disney inspired charity kit! It's called Forester's Wish and was created to help a family cover the medical bills of their little boy, Forester. Forester and his family were recently treated to a trip to Orlando's Magic Kingdom by the Make-a-Wish Foundation (thus the Disney theme).

The kit is amazing! It's got a wide variety of styles and designers so there's something in it for everyone, and it's HUGE! If you're a Disney fan, this is a great value... as well as going to a great cause! Because, as we all know, cancer sucks! The blog I linked to also links to Forester's mother's blog where you can read all about their family as well as the beginning of Forester's struggles. Such a sweet and faithful family. Please take the time to check out the kit and help the family out if you can. I know times are rough, but it's totally worth it if you can help out!

And another...

My friend Sarah's little girl. Ain't she a doll?

Panda Land Kit here by Sweet Genevieve

Adapted from Silke Ott's sketch

Did this one Sunday afternoon too.

Shoulda been doing homework

But instead I created. I needed to. This is my new niece, isn't she cute? :)

ETA: Items are all Sweet Genevieve at Oscraps, found here.

I know, I still haven't posted Avon Walk photos. They're coming... it's being edited when I get little snippets of time here and there. You'll know as soon as it hits the Tube. ;) Meanwhile, remember that it's Pink-tober and learn something about boobs! :D

Much love,

Cute kit, good cause

Songbird Avenue picks a charity each month and gets LOVELY kits from the combined efforts of popular designers.


Benefits go to Susan G. Koman for the Cure. Think it out. It'll be gone at the end of the month.

Happy Earth Day!

I just wanted to post a comment made by Vicki Stegall of Oscraps.com:

I was talking with my son earlier today about earth day and how important it is that we do what we can to help our planet. You know, the importance of turning off lights when we leave a room, etc., and I totally had a lightbulb moment. I realized that we, as digiscrappers are already doing it! We're eco scrapping. We've gone green!

What a great spin to put on a fun (obsession driven) hobby! Today I'll find the time to post something. I dunno what, but it's been quite awhile (partially because I haven't been doing much as far as scrapping goes, but also because I've been REALLY busy). Go scrap something and be proud that when you print it out, it'll only be ONE piece of paper, rather than 10 partial pieces that the remainders are now either in the trash or cluttering up a drawer/closet/table/cubby somewhere.

I want to play so bad...

This having my computer down is driving me nuts! I so want to goof off with a little creativity!

I finally bought a Starbucks customizable tumbler. I don't know how long I've been looking but I finally found one by chance last Thursday. Now I get to use my template that I bought (don't ask me where because someday when I get my EHD working again I'll find it and let you know then) awhile back and CREATE something fun for it.

I know I said I'd get a new header... but it's not working for me right now (creating, not the actual act of installing one). I'm still pretty fond of this one so I'm not in a super rush anyway.

Lately I've been getting less jazzed about some designers and more so about others. It's not so much something the designers did, it's more like I'm just getting more inspired by a different style lately. The problem? I've been cut WAY back on my DSB budget. Well, I dunno if cut back is the appropriate word as much as I was given one. Bummer. I know where my hard earned money is getting dumped next time I can buy though. :)

What do you think?

This is just a mock up. The actual picture wouldn't be this one, but a more recent one of me. It was just the only one I had scanned of a full body shot. Is that too egocentric? I was thinking of maybe a wedding photo. It'd be me and Matthew in that case. The other idea was me in my new dress. I'll post pictures after this weekend. If not, at least it's a fun desktop now. LOL

Credits:

Stock photo- Windows Vista

Foilage Brushes- DesignFruit

White Buggy Brush- Departika (I think I'll be buying the whole set)

Wings- Genevieve Sass

Hot Fairy- me ;)

Text- Beyond Wonderland font

Lunar Eclipse

I didn't get to see it completly blacked out as I had class, but I took this one around 6:30 pm on the 20th. I hadda lighten it up quite a bit with Laura Barden's Light & Shadows action. It worked pretty well. Before all you could see is a glimmer of the windows on the right side and the moon/lamppost lights were just white blobs. Cool huh?

Rejected

Bummer. Oh well, it was my first try... I'll try again next time.

I just wanted to thank you so much for applying! I was overwhelmed by the response I received to my creative team call this time around. I loved looking through each applicant's gallery and seeing each scrapper's unique style displayed in the carefully crafted memories there. Believe me, I had an extremely difficult time choosing, and even ended up taking 8 new members instead of my intended 5! I wish I had room for everyone who applied! Unfortunately, I don't have a spot for you this time, but I hope you'll keep scrapping and consider applying for my next call!

I didn't really think I'd make it, but wanted to at least say I'd tried y'know? I'm glad I did. I've been kicking myself since I let the opportunity go by a year or so back for the same designer. Cheers to next time!

Pee Wee + Teenie =

My baby sister is 18 today! She's such a doll! Here's her card. Her favorite colors are black, purple and grey. ;)

Credits:

Michelle Coleman: K stamp

Gina Miller: Paper, paint

Amanda Rockwell: Flower, paint

Genevieve Sass: Ribbon

Font: CK Elsie

Saving Second Base

one healthy booby at a time!

I'll post credits later... it's too late now. Whew! That's my most mixed up page ever (as far as intermingling designers).

ETA: Frames Nancy Comelab at The Lily Pad, Pink papers by Gina Miller, Torn Corner by Karah Fredericks at Blue Flombingo, Heart stitching & black paper by Shabby Princess, Rhinestones by Sweet Genevieve (shape by me); (Top right photo:)Photo actions by Laura Barden at FPD & Framing action by Valarie Foster @ altscrap.com, Fonts are Century Gothic and Scriptina.

Little Miss Allie Pants

Have I told you lately that I have THE cutest niece on the planet? I'm a little biased... but I do. ;) (Trena's niece Belen is a close 2nd though) She got her first haircut last Saturday and then as they were leaving from Sunday dinner she looked at me and told me that she had short hair just like me! I told her that I wore glasses like she did too and she said "Yeah, short hair and glasses just like you!"

Credits:
Genevieve Sass:
Be Dreamy Kit,
Tea Stained Ribbons
& Summer Soaked Alpha
Font:
CK Elsie

I also had to play with Genevieve's Wings set with this one. It was so cute!! :D

Happy Birthday Momma

Saturday was my mommy's birthday. I made her a card and I'm kinda mad at my printer now. Here's my digital preview... (they're clickable to view them MUCH larger)

Credits:
Kit by Tiff Brady and Gina Miller, "Party Bits"
Alpha by Michelle Coleman

Added:
Black Bazzill Bling
Colorbox Charcoal Chalk

See the difference? I liked it MUCH better on my computer! Anywho...

I framed a photo for her of us 5 (me, my sibbies and Matthew) at my baby sister's graduation back in June. I wanted to get her a GC for a book store but ran out of time. I'll have to belate that for her. ;) I printed this at Costco and got the white torn edge frame thinger added to it. Once it went in the frame you couldn't see it anymore, but at least she'll see it if she ever changes the frame out! LOL Aren't we just a cute family? That's Roxanne, Matthew, me, Katie and Adam (he's bent WAY over 'cause he's TALL).

Gotcha!

Hee hee! I snagged a victim. One of Trena's sister-in-laws (and one of baby Thyssen's many adorable aunties) emailed me the other night to ask about digiscrapping. You should have seen the novel of "basic links" I sent her. I sent her to the Piracy blog, Shabby Princess, GMD, DST, SB.C and Sheila's blogs (among many other useful places). I can't wait to see her first layout! The lucky duck already has REAL PhotoShop as her hubby is an extremely talented artist. Some day... *sigh*

I also got sucked into another fun blog yesterday. She had me laughing a lot. Then I got to THIS post. I laughed so hard I got a belly ache and very misty eyed. She is my new hero and I can only hope to be that awesome of a mom!!

And good old boys drinking whisky and rye

Every year I choose to try to reflect on how united our nation was in the first few weeks immediately following the attacks. And every year I sob. This year I was able to contain the tears mostly. I'm finally at a place where I feel like I can *talk* about it without getting too drained. If I let myself, the waterworks still come. I went on MSN.com and found TONS of photos in my search to make this LO. They were all flash shows so I couldn't use any of them, but I'm glad I saw them. I let myself cry then.

This year was the year to finally get all my thoughts about the whole thing down. I'm glad I'm finally able calm myself down long enough to capture my reaction to that day. It has already become the JFK assassination of my generation; this day has become the it in "where were you when it happened?" Before that, I thought it would have been Oklahoma City or Colombine, but neither of those situations came remotely close.

Here's my start at therapy and record keeping. I need to make another page to fully reflect what happened AFTER that day, but I can't do that tonight, I'm too tired.

Alpha & Papers: Gina Miller
Tears: Blue Flombingo

WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!

It's been a hard days night

I got a lot done today. Check 'em out!

Papers: GMD, Dreamer Kit
Bubble: GMD, Colorblast Kit
Fonts: SF Toontime

Kit: Shabby Princess, Modish Boy Kit
Flourish: SP, Ornate Stamps
Fonts: Scriptina, Century Gothic

Template, Papers, Bubbles, Swirl: GMD
Fonts: Artistamp, Century Gothic

All I wanted was a Pepsi

I had a weird day today. It felt like it was a never-ending conquest to find me some Diet Pepsi. Normally I wouldn't be so panicky about it, but I've been cutting WAY back on my soda intake... diet or not, the stuff is horrible for you!

Anyway, after coming home from an awesome class session I watched Some Kind of Monster while finishing Jenny's page. Sorry it's so small. I've tried to upload to DST, but yet again, I can't get the stinker to work!!

Gina Miller:
Alphas- Blue Shoes (blog freebie) and Whispers of Spring Numbers (retired collab kit, recolored)
Paper- In the Sea (collab kit)
Bubble overlays

Laura Bratcher:
Felt- In the Sea... the sand, palm tree, sea weed and water splash (collab kit at GMD)

Lauren Barden:
Photo actions- Make Me Colorful (I'm not sure which ones exactly as I used several)

Valerie Foster:
Photo matting action- Precious

ETA- Fonts: Scriptina and CK Elsie

Penny Arcade

For those of you who DON'T know... I'm a total dork. Now, I'm not as dorky as the people (the Gabe and Tycho in my life) that introduced me to Penny Arcade, nor am I as bad as those that actually read them religiously and understand ALL that is mentioned on this site... but I DO enjoy the comics quite often.

They relate mostly to the world of video gaming... some other techno speak is included, but mostly VG dorkiness prevails there. This particular comic gave me the giggles. I kinda see myself this way, especially after playing Mortal Kombat on a reincarnated DreamCast last night. I was kicking butt... but it is after all only because I'm truly talented at the art of button mashing, not because I actually KNEW what I was doing. I wouldn't dream or DARE to try something like Guitar Hero, I know my limits.

Going to party!

I've got a birthday party for some dear friends' 1 year old and a shower for my cousin's fiance. Since the birthday was a "no gift" party all I had to concentrate on was stuff for Miss Kerry.

Here's what I created for her!

*All things found on GMD. Quickpage, Candy Coated 8/07 collab kit & Beachy kit

They already have a lot of stuff they need so the shower theme is "date night." We're supposed to bring things that would be fun for a date. I'm going to give them a popcorn bowl, popcorn, candy and a GC to Tarjay for a movie. Yay!!