Friday, August 31, 2007

Scrapperie happenings -- Challenge/Sale/Fall Fest

I'm soo excited to be apart of the Scrapperie Tres Chic Girls!! In honor of this selection, I am sponsoring a challenge!!! Anyone can enter! All you have to do is create a LO about your scrapbook addiction (since that is how I got here!) The layout must be done using a Scrapperie kit (overstock or monthly -- at least 90% of the LO) and submitted by September 30th midnight central time. Everyone who enters will go into a drawing. The winner will be announced on October 1st and will receive something from my stash.

Don't have a Scrapperie kit...no problem! There is a hugh Labor day sale going on:

Spend at least $20 and save 10% (use code LD1 during checkout)
Spend at least $40 and save 20% (use code LD2 during checkout)
Spend at least $60 and save 30% (use code LD3 during checkout)
Spend $100 or more and not only receive a 30% discount, but you'll receive an EXTRA Overstock kit in your order! (use code LD3 during checkout)

Check out the Boutique!

Is that not awesome or what!?!?!?

Also, the Scrapperie is having a week long cyber crop September 12th through the 19th! (Check out the blinkie) There will be tons of games and prizes. What a great way to fall back to scrapping!

So check out the Scrapperie: http://scrapperie.com/forums/index.php?

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

How did I start and Summer Memmories

Colleen of the Scrapperie comes up with some great blog challenges: How did I start scrapbooking & My favorite summer memory. I love these!

In my profile I briefly discuss "How I started". It really did revolve around my grandmother's photos. I'm so glad I did it. I don't think I'll ever forget the look of joy on her face when I gave it to her! My second motivator was throwing away tons of my photos that I took in my childhood/college/and early adulthood. I had no clue what a bunch of these pictures were anymore -- where I had taken them, who was in them, or why? Here are my first layouts (I have removed them to avoid confusion...sorry)-- 12x15 argh!!! And the adhesive I used didn't stay. I need to go through the album and re-adhere.


My favorite summer memory -- I can't believe summer is almost over and how busy we have been! Kelly's first dance recital in June. She was so cute and who knew that she would love it as much as she did. Swimming lessons -- Kelly is just about swimming on her own now -- I totally can't believe this. She LOVES the water and she's just the cutest little fish! Then there is Mike's family reunion. Kelly got to go to the beach -- she's been asking about that all summer -- and play with her cousins! Kane County fair, Fairy Festival, Mike's company picnic, plus traveling back and forth from/to Muscatine. As I sit and reflect, I can't believe how busy we have been -- NO WONDER I'M SO TIRED!!! :-)



Monday, August 27, 2007

YAHOOOO!!!!

I think I'm still in shock. Back in July I decided to take my "craft" to another level -- join a design team and get published. Well, I have just been selected for the Scrapperie's Tres Chic girls. I'm on a design team! And not just any design team -- this site/kits is/are AWESOME!!!! I found it on the pub calls list and I'm so glad I did. I can't wait for the first kit to start playing. I've got some projects to finish up first...I need to get hot!

Also...I WON another contest at scrapdango. It was a scraplift contest for their scenic route kit. I totally loved my entry, but there were soooo many beautiful ones! I thought for sure someone else would get it. WOW!!! Here is the entry...So very blessed: http://jpaluga.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Scrapperie Blog challenge: What's on my most used table/counter and what does that say about me. Clutter and more clutter! I wish I could just put things away ASAP...dishes, mail, papers, my daughters toys, etc....But I always seem to get distracted or I'd rather be doing something else -- especially scrapping. What does this all say about me? I'm not really sure...I know cleaning/picking up is just not a priority for me. I make sure things are clean enough...just not sparkling all the time.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Water and more water...

...I'm so sick of water!!! We've had so much rain lately...argh! Now, we lost power for 3 hours last night and our basement flooded -- YUK, everything not in a plastic tote is soaked. So my weekend will be spent cleaning the basement. Thank goodness it's not finished! PHEW! But still, there is a lot of work to do and I am soo procastinating right now! :-)

Scrapperie blog challenge: What do I do to keep myself organized with my scrapping and in life in general? Hmmm...good question. I think I need to do a better job with this. I'm reorging my scrap room which should help with my scrapping. I also need to throw away all calendars but one and then actually use it. I'm guilty of keeping track of stuff in my head and that's just not working anymore! :-)

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Scrap mags

Ok...after another storm rolled through at 3:30 am and many thoughts running through my head...I decided to give up falling back to sleep and blog...eek...what am I thinking! :-)

1. Reorganizing my scrap room -- it needed to be done. My stash has grown exponentially lately and everything is everywhere. I'm all about working with the mess, yet it has become a distraction and a creative kill joy. So, I called a friend (a self proclaimed organization guru) and we are in the process of emptying every drawer/shelf/storage system I currently have. I'm glad to start the process, yet timing could be better -- I have an all day crop on Saturday that I have no idea how I'm going to prepare for it.

2. Scrapbook magazines -- Last night I joined a very fun chat were some venting took place -- mostly about the new MMM. It made me realize how little I know about the actually publishing part of scrapbooking. I love the magazines and hate them all at the same time. I love seeing the ideas, different new supplies/papers/embellishments, and what the designers do with them. Yet sometimes I really HATE how artsy they have gotten...one picture, one page layouts. Layouts that look like they took days to create. (And yes, I call BS on those designers that say they can do it in an hour!) Does your average scrapper really scrap this way? And yet...I find myself scrapping this way for submissions and design team calls. My albums aren't like this. A majority of pages are 2 page layouts -- or one page with multiple photos. Yet, I find myself wanting to take my craft to the next level, but does it need to look like designs in the mags?

3. So I wonder, what would it take to put out a magazine for the Joe-Average scrapper? We could have monthly columns: multiple photo layouts, 2 page layouts, tool review, etc...All designed by fresh faces with the average scrapbooker in mind. What would we call it, what other columns would there be...??? Thoughts anyone???

Monday, August 20, 2007

Piggy tales is done!!!

I have finally finished my projects for the Piggy Tales design team call and am about to email them off. I have to say I'm a little proud of myself. They turned out pretty good!!! (see Piggy Tales post below) Now to shrink them to 100K. I hope photobucket can help with that.

Wish me luck!! I'm 0-3 for kit club design teams, although that may be a matter of finding a club that matches my style. Although, I'm not really sure what my style is! :-) It's soo competitive out there!

Friday, August 17, 2007

To blog or not to blog

Hey all....I'm not sure I get this blog thing. I know, you say: "You have one". And this is true. I started it as a way to share my layouts with friends and family and it has sort of morphed into a scrapbook resume. Which is all good!!

But to "blog" about something, hoping that someone will read it and maybe leave a comment...I don't know. It seems way to random. To me, I guess if I want to say something and be heard about it...I say it directly to the person or persons. Yet, I can see the value of the blog to help people/families/etc to stay connected. It is a great way to reach a bunch of people.

So here I am: To blog or not to blog? That is the question!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Piggy Tales



OK...I know altering a sketchbook isn't all that unique, but Hansel was calling!






Ok...this is the first layout I've done specifically for a pub call...actually it's for two. Back to scrappin'!




Friday, August 3, 2007

White space

This is is my attempt at utilizing white space and stitching. Journaling reads:Playing "Kelly" style! You decide to take your dolly for a walk...definately a girl thing. But, you put a boy spin on it by pushing the stroller through the grass & UP the slide. I love the way you play & hope that you hold onto your Kelly-ness!

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