New Puppy Scrapbook Layout

I admit it.
I haven't scrapped a single page of anything in almost a year.
Totally shocking if you could see the entire room of scrappy crap that I have accumulated.

Lucky for me scrapping is kinda like roller skating.
Once you know how to do it, you can do it forever although as you get older and more time passes, the first time you get up on those wheels it may be super hard and you may fall on your face.
I decided one day last week that I was going to scrap.
I literally had to make a commitment to myself that I wouldn't give up and just one page done, nothing fancy.

It was hard.
Real hard.

I just haven't done it in so long and really lost my creative mojo.
And I know plenty more crafty people that this has happened to.

So here it is, the super simple page that took me like 2 hours and lots of cursing and frustration...

I used Making Memories Noteworthy Collection which I had sit collecting dust since it originally came out.
And American Crafts letter stickers, Heidi Swapp chipboard flower and Bazzill Eggplant color cardstock as the base although in these photos it doesn't look very purple.

Isn't she cute?
But man, don't let that cuteness deceive you, she is a little troublemaker.
She's 5 months now, totally house broken (thank god) but has her moments where she just feels like jumping up on to our dining room table.
And don't be surprised if you sit down and she instantly jumps into your lap like a 40lb. cat.

2010 has been a trying year so far.
I really thought it would be the year of the spazz and the stars would allign for me but so far that hasn't happened.
As much as I try to keep up with blogging, managing the Craft Critique blog keeps me VERY busy and so does life.
Isn't it funny how life gets in the way sometimes?

But, while I am still job hunting and trying to maintain some sense of order around my house and parent a mouthy teenage boy, I am determined to find my crafty groove again.
So stay tuned, if there is anyone out there on the interwebs who even look here anymore....

Did Anybody See??

Guess who's on Making Memories blog today?
I've been keeping this mum for a LONG time and man was it hard.
These little babies are the featured video of the day...
And if the crazy fast video is not your style (I had to make it fit in Youtube), you can watch the longer, slower, less crazy video that I taped first.

Making Lighted Cubes Tutorial from spazzgirl on Vimeo.

The MM features video can be viewed HERE (on Vimeo) or HERE (on Youtube).
Vimeo's quality is much better than YouTube.
And if you are in the Chicago area, the lighted cubes are right here in the store, so be sure to stop by for an up close look!

All my videos can be found on Youtube or Vimeo...be sure to subscribe so you'll know when new ones are up and ready.

Letter Challenge

The challenge over at ScrapYourCrap is near and dear to my heart because well...
My name is Simone and I am a letter sticker addict.
Seriously.
I have a hard time not buying letter stickers anytime they are around.
And no matter how many letter stamps I have and that they are so much more economical (and you know I am a cheap gal), I still can't resist them.
And I use them on almost every page I make.
If you are like me and have a ton too, especially several kinds with certain letters missing (for me, it's S, M and E), then this challenge is perfect for you.
Please join us!
This title on this layout cracks me up!
But they are.
And look at all those letters I'm using up and all those brads too!
And that patterned paper, American Crafts' Celebration line, only cost me 20 cents at a sale a couple weeks ago!

Little Mr. Smarty Pants

I realized when coming up with one of my latest layouts, I never even mentioned that after the weeks of science fair bitching, I never even mentioned that the kid placed 4th.
Duh!
Well, he did.
His project was 4th in the fair which is 4th through 8th grade, so I was pretty impressed with myself...I mean him, I was impressed with Max.
The top 3 spots were held by 7th and 8th graders and so it was a big deal that he won.
He missed going to the regional fair by one spot and for about a month kinda wished that 3rd place kid would come down with chicken pox.
But now that he has his taste of the limelight, this may have been what sparked his whole new outlook on his school career and put us where we are now...approaching an entire summer of school by choice.
He's totally not my kid.
I was not like that at all as a child.
As parents we stress getting good grades and the importance of education but by no means are strapping him to set of Encyclopedia Britannica's each night and telling him, "Memorize!"
It's all him.
And it makes me proud.
And a little freaked.

This is for the project RAK challenge we had over at the ScrapYourCRAP! blog this week.
Be sure to check out all the great projects with this paper lace and we are giving away some lace to two more people, so head over for a freebie!

Details: Paper Lace, Diecut Paper by KiMemories, Labels by Jenni Bowlin, Creative Cafe stickers, Making Memories Letter Stickers, Doodlebug Letter Stickers, Scenic Route Chipboard Piece for the "cool".

1990 Re-Visited

I have been pulling out old photos lately to inspire me to scrap.
It seems to be working.
But it also seems like more of a walk down memory lane than anything else.
I've been thinking a lot about my life, where I've been, who I am.
I've pulled out old pictures of me, or the kid, and on occasion, I've even been getting a little misty.
So unlike me.
It's amazing how fast time flies.
And I look at old me and try to imagine what she would think of this current version of me.
Would old me walk right up to current me and give her a good smack, "What have you done?"
Seriously.

When I found this picture of me and the man, I instantly felt like I was 18 again.
Totally stupid and naive.
And completely smitten with this man from this very first prom night.
It was the easiest I have ever fallen in love in my life and the hardest, for sure.
And as much as I hate this picture of me (I remember I was eating fruit salad as it was shot), the memories of myself in this moment, in this picture, are priceless.
It just makes me want to take more pictures.
And pull out some more oldies.
I'm still astounded at how skinny we were and amazed that these too people made the coolest kid on the planet.

Paper is Theresa Collins and Foofla, Stickers are Making Memories, Grungeboard heart, Making Memories flower and brad.

Ballz Challenge

It's 6:47pm, Friday and that extra kid is FINALLY gone.
The mom was supposed to be home Wednesday night but she was booked on American Airlines.
Then there were storms last night.
And today I got to spend all day at home with the boys because there was no school...
so I am pretty much exhausted mentally.

If there is one thing I learned this week, it is that my child is VERY well behaved and every time he opens his mouth to get all teen sassy, I am going to have to remind myself of this long week.

I got one layout done today and I had intended on scrapping all day, that didn't happen...
It was for the challenge over at Noelmignon.com.
I know this picture is not the best, a bit blurry.
I got a new lens last week (50mm/1.8f) and I am still getting used to it.
I used some Scenic Route patterned paper and the Making Memories letter stickers that are my favorites.
I also used those washers with the words on them, which have been in my collection for many, many years!
The ribbons are Michaels, Target $1 spot and Creative Cafe.

I am looking forward to my weekend as a mother of one.
I just hope all that talk about getting snow was just another one of those pesky weatherman errors.