Canay's Corner

Photo Freedom

2011-06-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

I am very excited that Stacy Julian's Photo Freedom class starts today. Stacy has revamped her LOM (Library of Memories) workshop, and is now teaching a new version called "Finding Photo Freedom". She has generously invited all of her former LOM students to participate in her new class for free. I love Stacy's teaching style and her positive attitude. I am looking forward to diving back into my own LOM system and continuing on my personal journey to photo freedom.

2011 Wellness

2011-06-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

We are almost half way through the year so I thought it was a good time to assess how I was doing on my wellness program. I'm afraid to report it is not going very well and there are some areas in my life that need improvement. This rainy June 1st day is a good a time as ever to pull myself up by the bootstraps and make some changes to better my life and the life of those around me. Rather than dwell on how I've failed, I want to focus on how I can do better:

Emotional: Be the best person God wants me to be (lately I'm a wreck and think I can't do anything right)
Intellectual: Keep current with my continuing education (once again I have let this slip away)
Physical: Move more and eat better (I have not been to the gym since 2010, and the carbs are getting out of control again)
Social: Call friends more often just to say hi (I've been so busy with the remodel I haven't had time to go out with friends)
Environmental: Consider some "greener" resources in our kitchen remodel (I am open to thinking outside the box on this one, maybe granite is not the way to go)
Financial: Shop from the pantry and freezer before purchasing something from the grocery store (throwing away food that has sat too long is not financially responsible)
Spiritual: Be on time for church (I can't remember the last time I was in church before it started)

It feels good to reassess and have a plan.

Meet Molly

2011-06-01T07:25:00.001-07:00

January 1st we drove down to Salinas and adopted a retriever/lab mix puppy named Sadie. Since our next door neighbor’s dog is named Sadie we decided to rename her. After much discussion between us and the kids we decided on Molly.

Big Idea Festival

2010-08-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

The Big Idea Festival starts tomorrow at Big Picture Scrapbooking. 13 days of project and layout inspiration from the fabulous teachers at BPS.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Happy Everything!

We are looking forward to going to Charlie and Lindsey’s house for Easter dinner. I am going to take my niece Tammy’s carrot cake. Such a treat after dieting for over a month and a half. But I will only have a sliver of a piece. Just enough to say ooohhh that was yummy!

Tammy’s Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 ½ cups oil

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tsp. soda

1 8oz. crushed pineapple including juice

1 tsp vanilla

1 ½ cups chopped nuts

1 cup raisins cut up

3 cups coarsely grated carrots

Directions:

Beat eggs until thick. Add oil gradually. Beat well. Sift all dry ingredients and add to egg and oil mixture. Add pineapple and juice. Add vanilla, nuts, raisins, and carrots. Bake 350 for 50-60 minutes in a 13x9 inch pan.

Frosting:

1 8 ounce cream cheese at room temperature.

1 cube (½ cup) butter or margarine

1 box powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla

Beat until spreading consistency. Frost cake when cool.

LOM Clipboards

2010-03-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of my Library of Memories (LOM) Clipboard. I made the large one last year to hold my LOM assignments. I made the small one this year and it holds my Digital Work Flow for LOM.

This is the checklist I am using for my Digital Work Flow for LOM. I’ve tested it a couple of times and it seemed to work. Yesterday I tried to test it on some recent pictures and it failed in the second step. Although I’ve been dragging and dropping my new pictures to a DVD RW with no problem, suddenly Windows 7 doesn’t want to do it anymore. First claiming that I was out of space (I had a couple of gigabytes left), then claiming that the DVD was bad. So possibly the RW DVD is a bad idea. My daughter says I should have bought a MAC and I’m starting to realize that my daughter is smart! I sort of threw my hands up and haven’t proceeded with the steps on my latest photos.

The other thing I’m working on in Library of Memories are my category drawers. I finally gave in and am in the process of taking out my non acid free Mead dividers and putting in my acid free dividers that I bought from Archival Methods. A time consuming step but one I will be happy with in fifty years when my pictures have not been ruined. Of course I won’t be around then and not sure which of my descendents will care. But I am doing the right thing. Right???

Here is my People we love category drawer. Note the red dividers are for the main categories and they match my red album which matches the red ribbon on the handle. I am starting to love color…thank you Stacy Julian!

I had a lot more pictures of category drawers to share but the SD card was not in the camera when I took the pictures so…lesson learned!

2010-02-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

My word for 2010 is Listen

Main Entry: 1lis·tenPronunciation: \ˈli-sən\

Function: verb

1 : to pay attention to sound

2 : to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration

3 : to be alert to catch an expected sound

— lis·ten·er \ˈlis-nər, ˈli-sən-ər\ noun

Musings on a Thursday afternoon

2010-01-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Life has seemed a whirlwind. I have had some virus ever since I got back from Europe on November 5th. My husband says I am not allowed to world travel anymore if I am going to bring home viruses. This week I am on a second round of antibiotics and hope that this will cure all. I feel like I have been on an alternate planet. Somehow in the midst of not feeling well, we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Thanksgiving was small with me my husband and my mother in law. We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with some store bought modifications. Everything was tasty and it was just fine that certain things were not homemade. Might I say that the Trader Joe's stuffing mix with a few things added in was delish.

It is occurring to me now that I should have written down what I added so that I could replicate it next year. Many people think I do things like that. But the reality is I am as scatterbrained as the next person. I am recalling onion, celery, carrots, and sausage.

We spent over $100 at Lucky and got a free turkey this year. It was thirteen pounds and perfect for the three of us, left overs and we made stock out of the carcass. Actually my husband pretty much made the stock. I stand in the kitchen cringing that he isn't doing it the way I do it. But in reality he is creative and is enjoying cooking since he retired. His stock turned out fabulous.

The other thing that made me cringe was the idea of canned cranberry sauce. My frozen cranberries didn't fare too well and we had to throw them away. But guess what? In a pinch Ocean Spray Cranberry sauce is pretty darned good. Didn't doctor them up. Just opened the can and threw them in a bowl and called it done.

Now let's talk yams/sweet potatoes. We didn't have them this year. A comment was made that they weren't missed. Well, I missed them. Am I the only one? When I was little I liked the sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top. When I got married I LOVED my mother in laws glazed sweet potatoes. As we all got older my mother in law switched to a mashed sweet potato with orange zest. While not as delightful as her glazed sweet potatoes, they are healthy and yummy at the same time. I think next year I will try these Mashed Sweet Potatoes With Orange Essence from the Food Network. But, no matter what recipe I end up with, I will definitely not omit the sweet potatoes!

The gravy was easy. My mother in law pre makes turkey gravy before the holiday. She purchases turkey wings and makes it from those. I'm not sure how she does it but it is always great and perfect.

To round out the meal we had mashed potatoes, salad and pumpkin pie. Do you want to know one of my secrets? It is Pillsbury Pie Crust. I'm sure it is not as flaky as grandmas, but it is super easy and pretty tasty. And I love the fact that I don't have flour everywhere when I make a pie!

So here it is January 7th and I am musing about Thanksgiving. That is because my brain hasn't kept up with the passage of time. Somewhere December came and went. I have lots of thoughts about December and Christmas and the wonderful time we had with our family. But I will save those thoughts for another day.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

I am so looking forward to 2010 and all that a new decade has to offer.

Scanning from old photo versus negative...

2009-09-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

I am working on an anniversary scrapbook and creating layouts for every year we have been married. In December we will celebrate our 32nd anniversary. I had a lot of layouts to do so I decided to work backwards so I could start with my digital photos. After those layouts were done I started scanning in my photos. It actually was going along quite well until I got to 1981. All of my photos (except one*) had faded to a reddish dull color. I edited it in Photoshop but the results were not that great. It occurred to me that my scanner has the capability of scanning in negatives so I went on a hunt for the negatives. It took me a bit of work but I did find them. I went through all the negatives that were dated 1981 but the photo I wanted wasn't there. My eyes fell on the humongous pile of non-dated negatives! It was a daunting task but I persevered and luckily found the negative for the photo I wanted. I could not believe the difference in scanning from the negative. The color and sharpness was so much better.

Here is the photo from 1981 that I scanned in

Here is the photo after I edited it in Photoshop

Not bad but on the layout it just looked washed out.

Here is a scan from the original negative

Much better!

After a little tweaking in Photoshop here is the final picture

And...here is the layout that I used the photo on

Although scanning from the negative was a little more effort, the results were superior. I have now added organizing my negatives to my long list of things I want to do.

*Do you want ot know the one picture that was not fade?. It was an Instamatic Polaroid picture. Go figure!

Journal in your own font...

2009-09-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

I love journaling in my own font. A couple of years ago, Darcy Baldwin, created a font for me that I use all the time. Using my font gives a cohesiveness to my layouts and it is my words in my writing! I love the quality of Darcy's font and recommend her services.

Today, I found out about FontCapture a beta site that will create a font in your handwriting for free. I have no idea as to the quality of the font but for those that may be on a strict budget, this might be a good opportunity to get a font in your very own handwriting! Just click on the thumbnail to go to the site.

2009-09-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Flower page challenge over at ScrappersGuide. Take a photo of flowers and turn it into digital art using filters, opacity, blend modes, etc. Create a page using your flower art as all or part of the background.

My layout using my rock cactus photo for the flower page challenge.

Credits:

Gina Miller Cottage kit from the September Premier

Fonts are Papyrus and DJB Canay

The journaling is a bit fuzzy in the web version. It reads:

I've had what I call my "rock cactus" for years. I was so thrilled when it bloomed. I guess it just needed time to get a little root bound. It blooms in the day and closes up at night. It is such a delight to see.

~ May 2008 ~

The Great Escape!

2009-09-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is contest entry for those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at the Great Gypsy Escape site! http://bit.ly/FWcud

Great Escape Meme

1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be? I would love to go to Paris

2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car? Anything from The Jersey Boys CD

3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do? Fly to Paris for dinner

4. What is your guilty pleasure? Glass of red wine and chocolate

5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home? Tahiti

6. Last book that you couldn't put down? A Thousand Splendid Suns

7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch? 10 Things I Hate About You (I love the scene where Heath Ledger sings "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" on the bleachers)

8. What is your favorite local escape? The outlets

9. How do you escape on a budget? A picnic on the river

Best food you've ever had while on vacation. Pismo burgers when we are camping (everything tastes great when you are camping!)

DST birthday gifts...

2009-08-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

"HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! The designers in the digital community wish to make your day extra special so they've got a TON of fabulous gifts for you! Have a wonderful day and happy shopping!!"

This was the beginning of my birthday email I received from DST (Digi Shop Talk). So I went shopping and bought myself a couple of birthday gifts...

A free template from Wendyzine Scraps at Scrapbook Graphics

Two kits at 70% off from Kari Hentzelt at Scrapbook-Bytes

So make sure you enter your birthday in your profile over at DST!

Have a happy day!

We all matter...

2009-08-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

I love Penelope's post from yesterday. We all need to hear this...check her blog post out HERE

I matter, you matter, we all matter and we have wonderful stories to tell through our scrapbooking.

Have a happy day!

Some photos I love

2009-08-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

I lost my blog header yesterday. As I was looking through my hard drive for the original file, I found a folder of these pictures I had taken a while ago. I just loved these photos but I don't remember why I have them in a folder all by themselves. Unfortunately, I think my blog header is gone forever. One day I'll re-create another one. Meanwhile I hope you enjoy the photos that bring me enjoyment!

The view from my friends deck

Ocean view at Bodega Bay

Some flowers from my yard

Dymo Label Freebie

2009-08-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

Dymo Label Alpha *Freebie*

Click HERE to download the file

Recipes for Scrapbook Success

2009-08-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

I noticed that when my daughter was home this summer, she tended to like the paper scrapbook pages versus the digital scrapbook pages. I've never been much of a paper scrapper. The best pages I have were done at crops where I had input from more experienced scrappers. I decided I wanted to improve my paper scrapping so I am taking May Flaum's Recipes for Scrapbook Success class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I've done three "paper" layouts so far. I have to say that I think I am a better digital scrapper than paper scrapper.

This is a sample of journaling on journal cards. The layout was a make and take from the Sacramento Scrapbook Expo.

This is a sample of paper strips in the middle.

This is a sample of journaling on drawn lines.

The first week of class was about photo arrangement.

The second week of class was about paper arrangement.

The third week of class was about journaling.

And the fourth week of class will be about ??? maybe embellishment placement?

I am sort of excited to get back into scrapping. I have many projects from Scrapbook Expos that I have never finished. I am now motivated to pull them out and get 'em done!

I haven't given up digi scrapping though. I am keeping current with my scrap last month layouts. I really like the format I am using this year. I will post some layouts in a few days.

I am also working on a special anniversary project. I am doing a page for every year we have been married. Which will be 32 years this December. I am working backwards because it was easier to start with my digital photos and I have calendars going back to 1991. I have complete 2008 - 1990 so far. The bad news is that my calendars are gone so I have to rely on photos to remind me of what happened that year. The good news is I keep getting younger with each layout:) I am posting my layouts at Scrapbook Graphics for their 2009 Photo Book Challenge. Here is my gallery if you want to take a peek.

Where's my header

2009-08-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was playing around and adding a blog list and then rearranging some things and now my header is gone!!!!!

Yikes, I set the blog up so long ago, I don't even remember how the header got there in the first place!

Be back later...

I'm back....
So I totally changed the template but that doesn't help. I edited the header and added the quote. The quote shows up by the blog title "Canay's Corner" doesn't show up.

I posted a question in the forums.

tada...I went to customize and clicked on Revert widget templates to default. At least now my title appears. I don't know what happened to my custom header but that is ok. I sort of like the lefty template and I will just stay with the generic template for now.

Goodbye Canay's Creations...

2009-06-12T12:56:00.001-07:00

At the end of this month, I will be taking down my website Canays Creations.

My husband retired and I've been looking at the budget especially the
repetitive monthly charges. I find I post (sporadically) on my free blog and
never go to Canays Creations anymore. It doesn't make sense to keep paying
for something I'm not using. It is a good time to clear clutter out of my
life and simplify.

I will still be scrapping and posting to this blog so I don't think the closure will have a negative effect on anyone. A few freebies will be lost but they are so old that I doubt they are useful any longer.

This is the start of my spring cleaning and it feels really good. Next I want to tackle my closet. Now that might be a nightmare!

LOM templates...

2009-04-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

I have created psd templates of my title page, dedication page and two section pages. Click HERE to download the zip file. Please be sure to read the pdf info file for information about the templates. I hope you find these useful. Happy scrapping:)

The Camera Evolution Continues...

2009-03-26T10:39:00.001-07:00

Remember this layout all about my camera evolution? The saga continues...

Lacey's camera broke so I gave her my SD500 which was just like hers. I thought I would be happy with just the S3IS 12x optical zoom camera. Well, what I discovered is that I really missed a small little camera in my purse at all times. I was missing so many shots because I was out somewhere and didn't have a camera with me. So I did some research and decided on the brand new Canon Posershot SD990 IS.

Duh duh, duh da...

I've read Pros and Cons on the reviews. My reason for choosing this camera instead of one of the less expensive models are:

the high pixels allow me to crop in on a shot and get a pretty decent closeup
its larger sensor lends a hand to low light shooting and captures some beautiful images
the red eye issue is much improved over the 550
it has full manual control (not that I use that, but it is possible!)
it has automatic face recognition
it fits nicely in my purse or pocket

I really love this camera. It really does do a pretty good job in low light conditions which I seem to be in frequently. I have to say that I do feel guilty about the Rebel that sits on my shelf. I even purchased a DVD on how to use the Rebel. It is still in the wrapper sitting on the shelf. It's not going anywhere and one day...soon...maybe after LOM...I will give it a go. Until then, I am tickled pink with my little point and shoot that is in my purse ready to use in a moments notice.

Design Your Life...

2009-03-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

I just checked and I have not posted since last November. Let's see that is five months ago.

Since November, I took Cathy Zielske's Design your life class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. We learned all about balance, color, white space, typography, lots of Cathy's clean and simple design tips, etc. We also created a lot of layouts...

The class ended on Christmas Day so I got a little behind during the holidays. I used the month of January and the beginning of February to get caught up on the class. It was a great class and Cathy is an excellent instructor. Her knowledge and humor are so contagious. I would never hesitate to take another class with her. She really helped my enthusiasm and my confidence as a scrapbooker. Her weekly videos, pdf files and audio files have provided me with a great resource that I can use over and over.

Then no sooner did I finish up with that class, I started the Library of Memories Class (LOM) with Stacy Julian. I wrote a blog post back in August titled Photo Freedom aka Getting Photos Organize d. This LOM class basically teaches everything from Photo Freedom step by step. I am having so much fun. I already embraced a lot of Stacy's non chronological attitudes but didn't really know it. She has helped me define what photos I want to scrap and how to have the photos organized in a system that I can retrieve them for scrapping whether digital or paper. And then her four album system for storing layouts is brilliant. This is a sixteen week class and I have totally committed to it. I have taken a break from blogs, digi scrapping sites, and other classes so I can embrace LOM and get the most out of it.

Here are some framework pages that I made for the All About Us album...

I actually have quite a few more frame work pages made for the other albums (Places We Go, Things That Matter, and People We Love) but haven't uploaded them to flickr yet. I'm realy pleased with the way they turned out and I will share them when they get uploaded.

So that's what I've been doing with scrapbooking lately. Having fun and learning lots of new things.

Using Photo Clusters in FotoFusion

2008-11-10T11:36:00.000-08:00

Designer Digitals is having a twenty-five cent sale on Katie Pertiet's Photo Cluster No. 07. I will be using the first one to demonstrate how to use Photo Clusters in FotoFusion.

Editing to say that if you missed the sale at designer digitals Molly and Max has a freebie photo cluster that you can use to play around with this concept. Just an FYI...Designer Digitals has twenty-five cents off sales each week. You can sign up for their newsletter if you want to be reminded.

1. First set your page up in FotoFusion. I am creating a 12x12 collage. I like to add a .125 Safe Inset so that nothing important gets cut off in printing.

2. Bring the photo cluster into FotoFusion. There are various ways to bring items into FotoFusion. I just open the folder that has the cluster and drag it onto the canvas.

3. Next we want to protect the cluster so that it doesn't move around when you start adding in your photos. Click on "Tools" in the top menu bar, select "Layers" then check the "Protect" box.

4. The next step is to create the frames that we are going to add our photos to. Holding the "F" key and using one of the frames in the cluster, draw out a frame in the size you want. Turn off the border and the shadow on the frame. Repeat this step for all the frames in the cluster.

5. Next add your photos to each of the frames that you created. For this example I am using papers in the frames because I am not at a computer that has my photos. You should be able to just drop your photo directly into the frame.

6. Some of your photos may not be layered properly. Review each individual frame in the cluster and note what is not layered properly.

7. Right click on any layer that you want to move and select the appropriate command. (Send to back, send to front, bring forward, send backward). Sometimes this is just trial and error.

8. Add any other papers or embellishments and voilà your layout is complete.

Just Another Day in Paradise...

2008-10-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

That's at least what October 1st was to me. But it was also the day that Stacy Julian challenged us to give ourselves a present. Woo-hoo count me in. I just LOVE presents. Well, it was a little different present than I expected. You can read all about it at her BLOG.

I don't have my pics in a little album yet. One is coming thanks to Amy Sorenson. I was one of the first twenty-five posters on her blog and she will be sending me a cute little album to put my cute little pictures in!

Here are the pictures. All taken on October 1, 2008. Sure if I was to choose ten photos to represent my life I would have chosen much different pictures. But I read Stacy's challenge, I had my camera in my purse and this was my day. Just another day in paradise!

For a brief description of each photo and why it was important to me on 10/1/08 see the set at my flickr

Life, organizing and the pursuit of designing...

2008-10-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? What have I been doing?

Resizing 200 layouts to be printed so I could take advantage of the special offer from MyPicTales...yes it was a bit of work to resize my layouts to have the bleed required by the site. But I got 200 layouts printed for free...nada....zich...zilch! But if you missed the special don't despair. 8x8 layouts are fifty cents ($.50) and 12x12 layouts are seventy-five cents ($.75) So at that price you have no excuse not to get your layouts printed and into albums so your family and friends can actually see them.

Speaking of albums, after reading Stacy Julian's book Photo Freedom, I have been in the throes of reorganizing all my albums, in addition to printing hundreds of digital photos, and basically rethinking my whole scrapbooking/photo storage process. Oh yeah, I jumped right into the whole shebang...I got the Pioneer Storage Binders, the category drawers, the 12x12 albums, some 8x8 albums, the circle tags, papers to match the 12x12 albums, matching ribbons, etc. When I decide to do something I take off...I only hope that I continue and do not run out of motivation.

Oh my gosh I have spent days, hours, up until the wee hours of the morning working on some of the initial organization. It will probably take six months to get everything fully implemented and sunk into my brain. But what I have so far is now a system that I can work at in small increments. (you know the good ole 15 minute routine) And it is set up enough that I will be able to start my next project...

I am enrolled in Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. In fact the class starts today. Now you know I am a digital scrapbooker. But I have decided to TRY and do my layouts in paper. You may think this is like taking a step backwards. Maybe it is. But I am such a paper klutz I really want to force myself to work in this area. You say "oh no you are not a klutz". Well let me tell you it took me like an hour just to tie a little ribbon on the clasp of my album. Seriously....how can tying a little ribbon be so darned hard??? First you cut the ribbon too big...then you cut the ribbon too small...then when you tie the ribbon the pretty part is inside out...was I not standing in line when God passed out craft skills???

Oh and then there is the inking the edges thing. On the computer, I can grab a brush ink my edges and it is done. In real life????? Just rub the edge of your paper on the ink pad. You rub it the first time and no ink appears on the edge. Rub it a few more times...oh look the edge you don't see has ink. I want to be able to see the ink when the paper is adhered to the background. Ok so angle the paper...oh look I have a nice neat line of ink. I don't want a nice neat line. It is supposed to look grungy. Keep angling and be a little jerky. Now I have ink on my fingers, on the middle of the paper not just on the edges. Ok so throw that away and try again.

Well, I at least got my Pre Work assignment done. It is in paper and there are some inked edges. It took me forever. And Stacy Julian says to just create a title or section page in one of your 15 minute sessions. I don't think so!

Note the journaling in the bottom square. It looks a little too neat doesn't it? That is because Darcy Baldwin created a font from my handwriting. I think it is really cool even if it is much neater than my regular printing. I have pretty much been using it for the journaling on my digital layouts to give a bit of personal touch. So I typed it up and printed it out for the paper layout.

I am Adhesive Challenged...

2008-08-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

I am going to the Sacramento Scrapbook Expo in October with Liz, a friend I met at the DSP Adobe Laptop Crop in July. I am signed up for a few classes and in looking at the supplies list what I notice most is adhesive, adhesive, adhesive!

I like the adhesive tape runners but for some reason they don't like me. I have tape in the darned thing but it doesn't come out...too much tape comes out but it is not on my papers it is just hanging out all over the table...the tape comes off but the left over piece doesn't feed back in and it is hanging all over the table..."easy to replace refills"...easy for who...engineers? I finally get on a roll and run out of tape and have no more refills. I tried the darned purple glue that dries clear...well explain to me why I have dried purple goop on my layout? I am apparently adhesive challenged.

I was thinking about what to bring to the Expo in October. I did a little research and I have come upon the decision to try something new. Ta-Da...it is the ATG tape gun...I know it looks big but the posts I have read indicate that it is light and easy to use. And it holds something like 36 yards of tape. Also for little ole challenged me, there is a loading instruction and video at Framing Supplies dot Com, the site I purchased it from. And just for a little insurance, I bought the refill tape also. Yes there is an upfront cost. But apparently if you do the math you will start recouping the costs in a short time. Of course that would depend on how often you scrap. Although I am an accountant by trade, I didn't bother doing any math here. I just looked at the shiny red gun and said....ooohhhh I like....and clicked on the add to cart button and the rest is history. I can't wait until it arrives. I will check it out and report back if adhesive challenged me could use it with ease.

You can Google this as it is sold at various sites. I bought mine from Framing Supplies dot com. $41.69 for the gun and $3.30 for the refill. I read in some posts that you can get the refills for $2.00. I don't know if that is an old price or if they are available somewhere for that price. I just decided to buy the refill with the gun since I was already paying for the shipping.

Pics to Scrap

2008-08-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Just thinking about all the layouts I need to do. I really need to develop a list of what I want to accomplish. When I actually sit down to scrap sometimes my mind goes blank and I can't think of what to do. Yet...I have so many photos that need to be scrapped. I want to go back and finish the Reality Scraps from 2007 at Scrapbook Graphics...I need to update my annual Casini Ranch album for our trip last November...I went on three vacations this year...

Hopefully the new organizational system I wrote about earlier will help me get some scrapping done!

Credits:
Shabby Princess Summer Cottage kit
SBB Tidbytes with compliments 2008 kit
Staples from Lumapix and SEI

Photo Freedom aka Getting Photos Organized

2008-08-27T10:47:00.001-07:00

I have been reading Stacy Julian's books on her photo and layout organization. Stacy has given me a new way of looking at how to organize everything. What I like about her style is that she presents what she does and explains how and why she does it. Having this information enables you to adapt the system to meet your own needs.

Stacy is a paper scrapper so her system starts with a printed photo. Since I am a paper and a digital scrapper, I am going to adapt her system to bridge my paper/digital organization. At the present time my paper system is one mish-mash-mess and my digital system is actually fairly organized. My plan is to organize my printed photos and layouts "loosely" based on Stacy's method. I say "loosley" because Stacy is right brained and I am left brained. So, our systems will naturally be slightly different.

For my digital photos and layouts I only need to make a few modifications and my digital photos and layouts will be organized exactly how my paper ones are organized. What a concept! I will have an All About Us 3-ring album and I will have an All About Us digital album. The albums will not necessarily have the same layouts in them because I don't print all my digital layouts and I don't scan my paper layouts. But the systems will be similar so finding things should be a lot easier. I am so super-de-duper excited about this. Organization makes me HAPPY!

The Big Picture was Stacy's first book. It talks more about her layouts and how you can set up a system to NOT scrap chronologically so you never feel like you are behind.

Photo Freedom is Stacy's latest book. It goes in depth about her actual system for photos and layouts. She explains what tools she uses and exactly how she uses them. She provides the details of the tools that she uses but encourages you to start with what you have on hand and not to go out and necessarily purchase everything that she uses. That way you can understand the nuts and bolts of the system before you add in the bells and whistles.

She explains the process that a photo takes. From printing it off the computer, where it gets filed, how it will get scrapped etc. It is very obvious that Stacy practices what she preaches and her ideas have certainly opened the floodgates of ideas and possibilities for my own process.

2008-07-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here are the brag book pages I made for the July Brag Book Exchange over at Digital Scrapbook Artisan Guild.

The idea of the challenge is to put together a set of 4x6 ready made pages to complete a 4x6 freestyle brag book album. We use the Monthly Guild kit to build our layouts. Post the finished layouts and then send a .png file to the monthly leader. She packages them all up and sends everyone who participates the completed album.

It is so much fun and I love all the creative brag book pages that everyone submits.

2008-07-18T14:22:00.000-07:00

Next week, on July 26th, I am very excited to be going to....

DSP at a Laptop Crop at Adobe Headquarters in San Jose, CA!

I've never been to a laptop crop. I have inherited Lacey's Dell laptop and have spent all week getting it configured and set up so I can take it to a crop. I've installed...

Photoshop
Adobe preset folder (brushes, actions, etc.)
Plugin folder (I haven't used these in a while but ya never know!)
All my fonts!!!!!
Main Type (my font managment program)
IMatch (the program I use to manage my digi scrap supplies)
I made sure my EHD could plug into the laptop and there will be outlets at the crop
I also made sure that IMatch on the laptop could read my EHD. This entailed telling Microsoft that the EHD is actually a different drive than Microsoft thinks it is
The drivers for my Wacom Tablet (I hope I have time to finish my tablet class before next Friday!)

I think I am set to go. Oops...you know what I have forgotten?? My pictures! Silly me, what would a crop be without PICTURES!!!!! Need to take care of that tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hoping to get some scrapping done. Although some have said that they are so busy running around, having fun, meeting fellow scrappers and eating chocolate...that they don't get much scrapping done!!!!!

One of the fun activities is to swap ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). These are cards you create that say something about yourself. This is the ATC card I made to take to the crop.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

Lentil Soup

2008-05-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

We love Progresso's Lentil soup but one day we were all out of it. I knew I had lentils in the cupboard so I pulled out The Sonoma Diet book and found a recipe for Ham and Lentil Soup. Surprisingly enough I had all the ingredients I needed to make the soup. I am not a fan of chicken bouillon granules so I substituted Trader Joe's low sodium fat free chicken broth. It was different than Progresso's of course but we really liked it.

HAM AND LENTIL SOUP

Ingredients

1 cup dry brown or French lentils
1 medium onion chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup diced carrots
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
5 cups low sodium fat free chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced (1 teaspoon minced)
1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup cubed cooked ham (about 5 ounces)
2 cups chopped fresh spinach

Instructions

Rinse and drain lentils; set aside.
In a large saucepan cook onion, celery, and carrots in hot oil about 10 minutes or until tender. Add lentils, the chicken broth, garlic, lemon peel, and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add ham; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes more. Stir in spinach. If too thick add a bit more chicken broth. Serve immediately.

Weight Watchers Italian-Inspired Zero POINTS-Value Soup

2008-05-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

Even though it is spring we were still having some cold spells and I got in the mood for soup. I decide to make Weight Watchers Italian-Inspired Zero POINTS-Value Soup. It turns out so yummy. We eat it for days. We eat it as is one time, add left over meat to it another time. We eat it for dinner one night and lunch another day. It is such a versatile soup. Below is the "official" recipe. I think I used just one can of vegetable broth and filled the rest with Trader Joe's Low Sodium Fat Free Chicken broth. I also added some beans to it, which totally ruined the whole zero point concept, but it sure did taste good. Beans are not in the photo because it was a last minute idea.

Ingredients

2 cup escarole, chopped
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1 cup onion(s), chopped
2 cup spinach, baby leaves
2 small zucchini, cubed
1 medium sweet red pepper(s), chopped
1 medium fennel bulb(s), thinly sliced
6 cup vegetable broth
28 oz canned diced tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp thyme, fresh, finely chopped
1 tsp fresh oregano, finely chopped
3/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup parsley, fresh, chopped
1/4 cup basil, fresh, leaves

Instructions

Put escarole, garlic, onions, spinach, zucchini, red pepper, fennel, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, thyme and oregano into a large soup pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes.
Stir in salt, black pepper, parsley and basil. Serve. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Art of Kathleen Francour...

2008-04-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Digital Scrapbook Place is having a challenge in April to do layouts based on the art of Kathleen Francour. Her gallery is here: www.kfrancour.com/newsite/gallery.html

Credits:
Fantaisie D'Aile freebie by Kim Liddiard
Bud Beauties papers freebie by Kim Liddiard
Sparkle Butterfly freebie by Lauren
Flower photo from stock.xchng
Lace border mask by Obsidian Dawn

Credits:
Bow from Meryl Bartho's Feminine Denim kit
Lavendar paper by alla
Floral paper by patchheart
Overlay from Seasons of the Heart kit
Scalloped template mat by digiscrap.ch
Yellow flower by Heidi Kuester
Purple flower by Kim Hill
Pink jewel flower by Nowan

Give your worries to God...

2008-04-25T17:46:00.000-07:00

One of our bible studies was on trusting God and not worrying. Shortly after that this Ziggy cartoon was in the paper. I took the liberty to modify it a little and create this layout.

Mandy...

2008-04-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Isn't Mandy just the cutest thing. If you have a little dog you would like to showcase, just click on the photo to download the frame in png file.

**Sorry Link will expire 6/30/09**

High Key Photos in FotoFusion

2008-04-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Trying to create a high key photo in FotoFusion. Click on the thumbnail to see full size.

DSAG April Notebook...

2008-04-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

I am having so much fun with this month's notebook. There is an article about free style layouts and another one about black and white layouts with a hint of color. Here are two layouts that I have made based on the articles and using this months Guild kit.

The first layout was also part of a challenge to use the word begin. The word begin reminded me of this sunrise picture I was fortunate to take. I say fortunate because I am not a morning person so I don't generally get the thrill of seeing such a spectacular site.

For my black and white layout, I used this photo of my husband with our son's new dog Mandy. We have really been enjoying Mandy and we get to babysit her when my son works 48 hour shifts. I used FotoFusion to create this layout. I converted the photo to B&W in FotoFusion and adjusted the brightness, gamma and contrast to attempt a more high key appearance. I used the April guild kit for papers and elements. The damaged canvas and the black border come with FotoFusion.

Project 366...

2008-04-22T15:43:00.001-07:00

My photo a day is turning into more like a photo once in a while. I haven't uploaded any photos since March 24th. How do the days go so fast????? Here is what I have so far. Click on the mosaic to go to Flickr to see the pics in detail. I'll post more pictures this weekend.

Brag Books....

2008-04-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

We are putting together a set of 4x6 ready made pages to complete a 4x6 freestyle brag book album at Digital Scrapbook Artisian Guild (DSAG). The idea is that we use the April Guild kit to build our freestyle layouts. Everyone who participates will receive the complete album. Here are three pages that I contributed to the album:

Brackets...

2008-04-16T15:32:00.001-07:00

Brackets are everywhere these days. Here are a couple of goodies I made playing around in FotoFusion. A bracket frame and a bracket mat. These can be used as mattes in FotoFusion or as templates in Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop. To download these just click on the image, then right click and choose "save as".

Happy Scrapping!

What to do with a can of Coconut Milk...

2008-03-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

A can of coconut milk was one of the gifts I got from the Martha Stewart show last November. It has been sitting in my pantry just waiting for me to find the perfect recipe. I found a great recipe for Thai Chicken Skewers from the Weight Watchers website. The chicken skewers were so good they did not taste like a "diet" recipe at all!

Click on the recipe to download a full size version that you can print out for your files.
Credits: Weed & Wildflowers Paisly Ivy, Welcoming Spring and SA Reverie Kits
Rusty Nail by Lauren Bavin of DSP
Chipboard Aloha by Linda Sattgast of Scrappers Guide
Stitching by Michelle Coleman and Sausan's Designs
Fonts used are LD Punch In and DJB Canay
Photo overlay by Katie Pertiet

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-13T10:19:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by Ali Edwards Butterfly Project to make something up for Valentines day.
Papers from Impressions of Romance by Studiogirls

Can it really be February?

2008-02-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that I last posted in November! So much to do...so little time! The holidays were jammed packed so for December I have an excuse. But what the heck happened to January? Did we have January or did I fall asleep on December 31st and wake up to February 5th? Sometimes I feel like I am constantly busy and getting nothing done!

I have been working on my 2007 scrap last month layouts. I enjoy doing these as they remind me of all that I have accomplished when I feel like I get nothing done. I am almost finished with December. Then I will print them, put them in my 8x8 Pioneer album, look at them and see all the wonderful things we did last year!

Have you heard of Project 365? A lot of people are talking about it. It seems to have started at Photojojo. I jumped in on the 20th. I suppose for this year it should be called Project 366, but the name stuck with me so I am calling it Project 365. Instead of posting my pics here on my blog I decided to use my free flickr account. It seems a nice way to keep them all in one set and see the progress through the year. If you would like to see my photos you can go to My Project 365.

I created this layout using one of my Project 365 photos. Check out the font used below the picture. That is a font created from my hand writing. How cool is that. Darcy Baldwin created the font and she did a great job, I am really please with her work.

I used Lori Barnhurst's Laughter kit. (Flower slightly recolored to match the vase)

Diary of our trip to New York...

2007-11-07T15:31:00.001-08:00

Day 1

Leave the house at 4:30 a.m. and head to the airport
Arrive in New York and get settled into our hotel
Walk around times square to get the lay of the land.
Dinner at Connolly's Pub. Called Lacey and said "Hi honey, I am in New York City drinking a Harp's beer in an Irish Pub!" She got a kick out of that since we have both been to New York and Ireland together.

Day 2

Breakfast at the deli next door to the hotel
Ground zero, Wall Street, Battery Park, Bowling Green, Washington Monument, Trinity Church, St Paul's Church
Drinks at Delmonico's
Dinner at Indian Taj in Greenwich Village
After dinner drinks at the Comedy Cellar

Day 3

Breakfast at Connolly's pub
We planned to go to Central Park and the Met. But our day was totally diverted when we ended up with passes to The Martha Stewart Show. The show included Lynn Redgrave (simple supper), gardening expert Barbara Damrosch (vegetable cold frame) Anne Kreamer, (going gray)
The bus got totally gridlocked in the Halloween traffic so we hopped off and experienced the subway so we could get back in time for our play
Appetizers and drinks at Connolly's Pub. (ok...we really like this pub!!!)
See Wicked at The Gershwin Theater

Day 4

Two hour Circle Line boat cruise
Breakfast was a hot dog at the pier
Walked from the pier to Macy's and shopped in and around Macy's
Walked back to Times Square stopping at Connolly's Pub...again...
Dinner at Keen's

Day 5

Up at 5:00 am for The Today Show
Breakfast at this little grill across the street from Rockefeller Square
The cab picks us up at 9:30 am to catch our plane for Syracuse
Check into our hotel at Syracuse and take a walk around the campus
Meet up with Kris and have dinner at the Hotel

Day 6

Breakfast at Cosmos
Shopping and Imax movie at Armory Square
Take the bus to the Carrousel Mall for a little shopping and dinner
Back at the hotel we rent the movie "I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry"

Day 7

Breakfast at Cosmos...again...
After meeting Kris' parents we go back to our room to rest before the basketball game
Rent the movie "No Reservations" while we are resting
We go to the Syracuse University first Exhibition Basketball. Kris plays great and they win 80 to 71
After the game we have a cocktail at the hotel bar
Dinner at Ricos Restaurant

Day 8

Up at 3:30 a.m. (did I mention that was a.m.???)
Breakfast at the Airport
We head back to California

Let's talk font organizing...

2007-10-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Many digi scrappers are total font freaks. I mean how many fonts does one need? Well frankly we need ALOT. And since we need a lot of fonts we need a way to organize them. For the last few years I used a free program called The Font Thing. It was a great program with a great price. But unfortunately the program hasn't been updated and it does not recognize the new Open Type of fonts. I embarked on a search to find a current program that would replace The Font Thing and I came upon Main Type by High-Logic. At first I was dismayed by the $49 cost. But in thinking it over, I realized that I spend many, many hours in my digi scrapping hobby and $49 is just a drop in the bucket in the total scheme of things. (Think $$$ for Photoshop, Actions, Kits, Classes, etc.) So I decided to purchase it and spent the whole weekend organizing my fonts. Taking Stacey's Typography class over at Digital Scrapbooking Artisian Guild certainly helped me get in the mindset of how to organize my fonts to enhance my titles and journaling of my layouts. I was in total shock as to how many "groups" I ended up having. No longer am I just separating between Serif, Sans Serif and Decorative. To give you an idea...here is a list of my font groups:

All Caps-Decorative

All Caps-San Serif

All Caps-Serif

Alpha Dings

Alpha dings-baby and children

Alpha dings-beach_summer

Alpha Dings-floral

Alpha Dings-hearts

Alpha Dings-school

Bar Codes

Brush

Caligraphy

Chunky-Decorative

Chunky-Sans Serif

Chunky-Serif

ClickArt Handwritten Fonts

Clogged

Decorative-Double Lined

Decorative-Flourish-Curlicues

Decorative-Fun

Decorative-Journaling

Decorative-Mix and Match

Dingbats

Dross

Grunge

Handwritten

Handwritten-Pea fonts

Historical-Gothic-Oldstyle

Holiday-Christmas

Holiday-Easter

Holiday-Halloween

Holiday-patriotic

Holiday-StPatricksDay

Holiday-Thanksgiving

Holiday-Winter

Keyboard

Outline fonts

Sans Serif

Sci-Fi and alien

Script

Serif

Shapes

Stencil

Stitching Fonts

Stylish-Streamlined and Elegant

Typewriter Styles

My final category is called ZZ-Foundries. In here I have copies of CK Fonts, 2 Peas Fonts, PC Fonts, Blue Vinyl Fonts, etc.

Just knowing that all my fonts are organized and easy to be found when I need them just makes me smile. I can't wait to see if this organization makes a difference in my scrapbooking!

It was 1970 something....

2007-10-03T10:16:00.001-07:00

Last March (2007) I was walking along in San Antonio, Texas and snapped a picture of 1977 etched in the stone walkway. I was married in 1977 and this December will be my 30th anniversary. How cool is that?? My mind is already thinking of how I can use this photo in my digital scrapping.

Yesterday I made a bookmark for Week One: Celebrating Your Uniqueness at Scrapbookgraphics. I used a background paper by ON Designs and brushes that Michelle Godin shared for the week one quirky challenge. There is my photo blended into the upper corner and I listed popular movies from 1977. Some other popular movies from 1977 are:

Rocky

Smokey and the Bandit

A Star is Born

King Kong

The Deep

Silver Streak

The Enforcer

Colse Encounters of the Third Kind

In Search of Noah's Ark

Here are some other popular things from 1977.

Popular Songs

1."You Don't Have to Be a Star" ... Marilyn McCoo
and Billy Davis Jr.
2."You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" ... Leo Sayer
3."I Wish" ... Stevie Wonder
4."Car Wash" ... Rose Royce
5."Torn Between Two Lovers" ... Mary MacGregor
6."Blinded By the Light" ... Manfred Mann's Earth Band
7."New Kid in Town" ... Eagles
8."Love Theme from 'A Star is Born'" ... Barbra Streisand
9."Rich Girl" ... Daryl Hall and John Oates
10."Dancing Queen" ... ABBA

Most Popular Television Shows

1. Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
2. Happy Days (ABC)
3. Three's Company (ABC)
4. 60 Minutes (CBS)
5. Charlie's Angels (ABC)
6. All in the Family (CBS)
7. Little House on the Prairie (NBC)
8. Alice (CBS)
9. M*A*S*H (CBS)
10. One Day at a Time (CBS)

Most Popular Books

Fiction:
1. "The Silmarillion" by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. "The Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough
3. "Illusions" by Richard Bach
4. "The Honourable Schoolboy" by John Le Carre
5. "Oliver's Story" by Erich Segal

Nonfiction
1. "Roots" by Alex Haley
2. "Looking Out for #1" by Robert Ringer
3. "All Things Wise and Wonderful" by James Herriot
4. "Your Erroneous Zones" by Dr. Wayne Dyer
5. "The Book of Lists" by David Wallechinsky

Academy Awards

Best Picture: "Annie Hall"
Best Director: Woody Allen ... "Annie Hall""
Best Actor: Richard Dreyfuss ... "The Goodbye Girl"
Best Actress:Diane Keaton ... "Annie Hall"

Grammy Awards

Record of the Year: "Hotel California" ... The Eagles
Best Song: "You Light Up My Life" ... Joe Brooks
Best Album: "Rumours" ... Fleetwood Mac
Male Vocalist: James Taylor ... "Handy Man
Female Vocalist: Barbra Streisand ... "Love theme from 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen)"

It has been so much fun walking down memory lane today. If you are in the mood to walk down memory lane too check out History Central.com

September is here and it is soccer season...

2007-09-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

My kids have outgrown soccer but here is a little soccer ball I extracted from one of the photos I had. Click on the picture to download the png file.

Must have utility...

2007-09-26T14:41:00.001-07:00

In addition to your graphic or scrapping program, what is your must have utility. Mine would be Unziplify.

From their site: "Unziplify provides an easy one-click method of extracting an entire folder full of ZIP, RAR, and ACE files. Simply right-click on a folder or drive in Windows Explorer and select 'unziplify'. Every archive found in that folder will be extracted at once. It's the most painless way to extract archives yet!"

I have to say that they are right. I use unziplify everyday. I put all my downloads in one folder. Then I right click on the folder and chose "Unziplify" and voilà everything is unzipped. Unziplify has options so you can set the default configuration to your liking. I have each zip file unzip to its own file. This does cause a file within a file situation sometimes but I just manually fix those. You can also chose to unzip to a single subfolder or to the archive folder if you want.

The BEST part of waking up is Folger's in your cup! oops...got carried away there...The BEST part of Unziplify is that it is free! Yep, you read that right. I have been using this little program for a few years and have had no problems with the download or the program. So if you are finding that unzipping your downloads is a pain, I definitely recommend Unziplify!

Reality #27

2007-09-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

Between summer and family events I have gotten behind in the Reality challenge over at ScrapBook Graphics. It is my intention to catch up on the ones I am missing so they will probably be appearing on my blog in random order.

Jenn's challenge for #27 was:
So my challenge to you this week is to document a layout with some type of "stream of consciousness" included. It could be a series of pictures or some journaling....nothing too earth-shattering, just something that you are going through (or in my case, something my son is going through). It could even be a series of elements or papers....

Credits can be found here.

The nature of the layout came because I've been trying to put together a memory board for my dad's memorial service. I am so bummed that I don't even have a picture of our last Christmas together. This led to a stream of negative thoughts about why it is other peoples fault that I often don't have pictures. Doing the layout was therapeutic for my bad attitude!

In Loving Memory...

2007-09-01T10:03:00.001-07:00

Credits:

Word art by Tina Chambers at DSP
Background and mat from Remember When Kit by Jean from the CSE Yahoo group
Tag with hinge is from J. Baechtold's Remembering Father kit from Scrappers Guide

This is a poem I wrote when I was in High School...

A Special Someone

You are always there,
When I need a helping hand.
It's nice to know you care
and that you understand.

You never say a lot,
But what you say is true,
There is a special spot
In my heart for you.

I couldn't have got along,
Without the help from you,
You've taught me right from wrong,
and what is best to do.

At times I've made you mad,
But I've learnt from my mistakes,
I am proud to call you dad,
Because you've got what it takes.

Recipe Card Template #2

2007-08-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Credits for the Shrimp Scampi Recipe card:
Folded stitched ribbon from Altered Twill and Lace by Sylvie of Sausan Designs, Stitching from Michelle Shefveland's Mission Possible kit from March 2007 Scrappers Guide, Staple my own, Papers and tabs made in FotoFusion. Photo by me. Fonts are Pea Jenn and LD Letterpress.

I was supposed to post this before I went on vacation but alas.....time ran out.

So here it is belated but with the best of wishes to my fellow scrapping buddies.

Happy cooking and scrapping!

Grand Junction Colorado

2007-08-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous time on our three week trip to Colorado. Basically we had a week of driving time, a week in Grand Junction and a week in Salida. The first week in Colorado was in Grand Junction for the United four Wheel Drive Association 2007 Convention.

This is the "Beast" that took us on our journey. It is a Renegade Motor Home on a Peterbilt Chassis. Behind it we pulled our 79 CJ7 Jeep.

Utah Canyonlands taken at a rest stop on our way to Colorado.

The first jeep run we went on was called The 21 Road Run in Hunter Canyon. The rock formations on the trail were absolutely fabulous.

Here we are lined up on the Montrose run in Calamity Canyon.

This was a mild albeit muddy run on the Grand Mesa/Long Slough. It is a 10,500 foot mesa with a beautiful view. The run is a beautiful trail full of mud holes and beautiful wild flowers.

Here is the jeep after going through the worse mud hole. Fortunately we were able to find a car wash in town!

This is the view at the top of the mesa. This gave me a great chance to practice the photo stitch feature of my new camera. After reaching the top we came down a different road than we went up. It was full of swithc backs and the view on each turn was quite impressive.

On the Battlement Mesa run we certainly did not expect to run into these beautiful friendly horses. This is our last day in Grand Junction. Tomorrow we head for Salida, Colorado for the All-4-Fun week of jeeping.

Recipe Card Template #3

2007-07-14T12:10:00.002-07:00

Credits for the Crockpot Recipe card:
Shabby Princess and Sara C. Dinner Party Kit
Fonts are: Beauty School Dropout, CK Holiday Spirit, Eye Catching

It's a slap happy Saturday and another template to share. You may be wondering how I went from template #1 to template #3. That is a good question for which I don't have a good answer. So, suffice it to say, template #2 will be posted when I get back from vacation in August.

Do you like recipe swaps? Sue (javamama) has started a Recipe Rounds on her blog. It sounds like a fun way to collect some new recipes. I will be checking it out when I get back. In the meanwhile, I want everyone to get busy cooking and creating recipe cards. If you post a recipe card, please link me up. I would love to see it.

Texture...

2007-07-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

I almost stepped on this little fellow when I was watering. Isn't he cute? (the frame is one of the supplies that comes in the FotoFusion software) When I saw this photo, I immediately thought *texture*. Isn't it funny how digital scrappers see texture where ever we go?

Here are some photos I took in Disneyland. While other people are taking pictures of their cute kids and family, I am checking out the wood work as we are meandering through the waiting lines...

Textures are so versatile. They can add depth and interest to your scrapbook layouts. How they are used will depend on what program you are using. I use them in Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and FotoFusion. Here is a two page layout about textures I made in Paint Shop Pro.

Credits: Torn Memories kit by Lauren Bavin of www.digitalscrapbookplace.com; leaf is from Cottage Arts

Recipe Card Template #1

2007-07-06T18:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Saturday blogging buddies!

Instead of sharing a recipe card with you today, I thought I would share a template instead. I made a template from my Coriander Lemon Scallops recipe card. I have never made templates so it is very basic. I made one for FotoFusion, Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. I've also included separate png files for those who use other programs. The PSP file *should* work in version 9 and up. (Earlier versions are available upon request.)

The zip file includes all the various files. Just click on the preview to download it. If you have any problems with any of the files please let me know.

Credits for Coriander Lemon Scallops recipe card can be found here.

Happy cooking and scrapping!

Christmas in July...

2007-07-06T16:14:00.000-07:00

I have a new little toy for our trip to Colorado this summer. I really did not intend to get another camera. I wanted a bit better zoom for two reasons. First, my family hates their pictures taken and I thought if I had more zoom I could sneak pictures in more often. Second, we are going camping/jeeping in Colorado and I wanted some more zoom for the fabulous scenery we will be seeing. I started out "trying" to be frugal and thought I would go on Ebay and find me the Tele-converter lens for my Canon G-2 camera. It is sort of an older camera and I figured that I could find a great deal. After doing some research I discovered that I needed the lens adapter as well as the converter and it was going to cost around $100. I was just about to place a bid when Randy wandered in to see what I was up to. After some discussion we were curious as to what a new camera with a better zoom would cost. That led us to researching Canon sites...camera review sites...Ebay...Amazon... I won't bore you with all the nitty gritty of our research but, three hours later I was buying...

Power Shot S3 IS
Digital Camera
6.0 Mega Pixels
12x Optical Zoom

Cost of Camera.....$300.65
Cost of Accessory Kit.....$53.95
Cost of Memory Card.....$32.99
Cost of Precious Memories.....Priceless

Recipes...

2007-06-30T12:06:00.001-07:00

My new passion has been in creating 4x6 recipe cards of my family recipes. For Christmas last year, I printed two sets from York Photo and put them in cute recipe books for my kids. I really liked how they turned out so I bought a recipe book for myself and re-printed all my cards as well as cards I have also received from various recipe exchanges. Here is my latest card. Shrimp Scampi. The recipe came from a little cookbook called Glorious Garlic by Charlene A. Braida. Of course I made some modifications, so I made the card so I would remember what I did! Being tired I used a bag of Trader Joe's frozen uncooked shrimp and simply served it on top of Trader Joe's Spinach Salad with Cranberries, Pecans. Blue Cheese & Raspberry Vinaigrette. (A strange combination but it was quite tasty.) If you like recipe's you can click on the thumbnail to download a full resolution card for printing.

Credits:

Papers and tabs made in FotoFusion; Staple my own; Folded stitched ribbon from Altered Twill and Lace by Sylvie of Sausan Designs from Scrapbookgraphics; Stitching from Michelle Shefveland's Mission Possible kit from March 2007 Scrappers Guide.

This is the pocket page recipe book I got for my son. It is really cute and is decorated with little metal utensil set. I took out the cards that came with the book and inserted the cards that I made and printed. I gave my son the cards so he can write new recipes on them and add them to the book.

This is the one I got for my daughter. I found these at a Hallmark store at the mall. I printed so many recipes, I needed additional inserts. I found them available at C. R. Gibson online. So when purchasing the inserts for them I found a cute recipe book for me too:)

This is the one I got for me. These wonderful pocket page recipe books can be found at C. R. Gibson. I like them because they are smaller than a binder (they are 8x9) and hold a lot of 4x6 recipes.

Happy cooking and scrapping!

Canay

Jersey Boys - June

2007-06-07T15:12:00.001-07:00

We had a girls night out on Tuesday. It was the second time I got to see the Jersey Boys. It was a new cast and just as wonderful as the first one! Lots of credits on this one. They can be seen at my Scrapbookgraphics gallery right HERE

Stop...

2007-06-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

This weeks one little word challenge is to scrap the word STOP.

Credits
Traci Murphy drop shadows.
Photoblast Actions.
Papers and elements made by me.
Fonts are LD Remington Streamline and Not to Shabby Plain.

Wheresoever you go...

2007-05-19T21:59:00.001-07:00

I discovered a new blog called One Little Word. It looks like a fun blog with word challenges and tips for scrapping. The first word challenge is the word "Go". This is layout I did using a quote from Confucius. Emily is graduating from High School and heading to the University of Washington. I thought this quote was perfect to create an 8x10 layout that I will frame and give to her as a gift. Credits for the papers and elements cand be found Here.

SNL 26 Graduation

2007-05-12T00:31:00.000-07:00

These are the things I made to contribute to this month's SNL at Digital Scrapbooking Place (DSP).

National Scrapbook Day

2007-05-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

National scrapbook day shared its day with Cinco de Mayo on Saturday, May 5th. I didn't pull an all nighter this year but I checked out the happenings at Creating Keepsakes, a couple of chats at Digital Scrapbook Place, and I found all the butterflies at Jen Wilson Designs so I got her cool kit. I also used the day to start organizing my *paper* scrap booking supplies. In honor of Cinco de Mayo we ordered take out from El Guadalajara. DH and I shared Chille Rellenos and Carnitas and DS had his traditional Carnitas Chimichanga. All in all it was a delightful National Scrapbook Day!

I did get one layout done. Ali Edwards first challenge at CK was to take five minutes and take photos of everyday beautiful things. I ran around taking photos and quickly uploaded them into the computer. Later that evening I posted the same layout for DSP's multiple photo layout. Credits can be seen at DSP or at Jen Wilson's site. The layout is also posted at CK since that is the site Ali was hosting her challenge at.

Reality #15

2007-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

I sort of cheated for Reality #15

I did this layout last November for Jen Wilson's Meaning contest. But, My Sanctuary was just perfect for this weeks reality so I decided to let it serve double duty! Credits can be seen at Jen's site or at SBB.

So here is my challenge for you this week. Now it does sort of go a bit beyond our everyday reality......but it was something that spoke to me this week. So I challenge you to show me your SAFE place. A place where you feel comfort, maybe rejuvenated, or just helps you refocus. It can be your bedroom, the corner of your basement with your scrap stuff, a chair on your patio, or a even just a spot on a bench under the tree in a park. A place where you feel peace, where your ideas can flow and where you can just be you!!

Reality #14

2007-05-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

Thankfully I had this nice little victory just in time for our Reality Challenge for week 14. Credits can be seen Here.

Here is what the challenge is for this week......scrap a little "victory" moment. Doesn't have to be winning $1,000 or losing 50 lbs.....I'm thinking about something little (but still quite important!!) that happened this week that gives you a sense of winning!! It could be going to the gym today, picking the Lean Cuisine instead of the Pizza Hut for dinner last night, a conversation with your spouse/child where you feel that you made your point well and they listened, held back on buying those sweet sandals at Target as you have 10 perfectly fine pair at home.....etc.

2007-04-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Maxtor® Personal Storage 3200 External USB 2.0 Hard Drive, 320GB

I had a wonderful weekend moving all my digi files from my "E" drive, my "C" drive, and my CD disks to my new external hard drive. I have over 60 gigabytes of stuff so I still have plenty of room for any new goodies I may acquire. Maybe I'll move some of my older photos over also. One thing I am extremely grateful for is that I was able to relocate all my key words and categories in IMatch, the image managment program I use. Now when I find a goodie I want to use, instead of having to find the right drive or CD that it is on, everything is in the same place. This should make my scrapping time much more effecient. And just to be on the safe side...I purchased a separate identical drive and made a duplicate. I've noticed the drives are on sale. Maybe because Seagate acquired Maxtor they are being discounted. Anyway a mere $99.99 at Circuit City or $119.99 at Office Depot.

It was sort of interesting that my hubby was totally all for me buying the two drives. Sort of makes me wonder...what does he want?????

Summer Fun

2007-04-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember that last summer I participated in the mentor program at Digi Scrap Designer and created a kit called Summer Fun. When my computer crashed I thought I had lost my Mentor files. The other day I was moving all my digi stuff over to my new external hard drive and I found an unlabelled disk. Happy days...all my Mentor files had been burned to the CD. Silly me to not label the CD. I think it is because I read that I shouldn't use a sharpie. I could not find the pen that was safe to write on CD's with so I try to make CD labels. But ya know...sometimes time is short and I probably thought I would make the label later! Anyway...what good is a kit doing on an unlabelled CD??? It definately wants to be shared!! You can download the zip files by clicking on the thumbnails. I shared the flower swirl and the frayed mattes last summer but I am including them here also for anyone who might have missed them.

I had so much fun creating these, I hope you enjoy them. Drop me a line and let me know if you use them. I would love to see your layouts.

**Sorry Link will expire 6/30/09**

Reality #13

2007-04-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

Jenn's challenge for this week:
So I've really been thinking about different challenges we could do - trying to find something that perfectly relates to our everyday life. I have come up with lots of ideas for the weeks to come, but the one that is foremost on my mind this week is procrastinating. I do it without even recognizing it....of course it drives me (and everybody else around me) crazy. LOL...maybe I'm rationalizing here, but I almost don't even consider it procrastinating...i call it eternally optimistic!! I have this unrealistic (some would call it) outlook on how long something will take to get done and then never get to tackling it...because I truly believe that I will just finish it tomorrow!! I mean, there are things that go MONTHs on my to do list. So tell me what's on your list that you keep putting off - saying that tomorrow you will do it. Or maybe something you are dreading. And for added fun, DO IT!! Finish it!! Complete the Task!! Check it off!! Boy does it feel good to get those things done.

Procrastination, what's that?????

Yep...I know all about procrastination! Credits can be found right HERE

Reality #12

2007-04-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Because it is Fashion Week here at Scrapbookgraphics, my Week 12 challenge for you is to scrap something you wear - whether it be a favorite pair of shoes, your watch, a special ring, or your 2003 Race for the Cure t-shirt (my personal fave!!).....memorialize it!!
Sort of a layout for the Reality challenge as well as a Flylady layout since march was dress to your shoes month! Credits for this layout can be found HERE.

Reality #11

2007-04-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple weeks I've heard lots of talk from the various women who inhabit my world, both online and in real life (and even the talk that goes on inside my own head) about guilt or feeling like they aren't doing something well enough. Heck, last weeks' challenge was about what was maybe a bad idea but we did it anyway. Well, I'm wanting to turn it all around now. I want you to scrap about you. What you are proud of. What you do well. What are some hallmarks of your personality that you value. Really, it can go down any path, but at the end of the exercise I would like for you to have something that represents the FABULOUS mom, daughter, sister, wife, and friend that you are TODAY and why you are proud to be you. Hmmm....this should be simple, right? LOL.

Click HERE for credits.

Reality #10

2007-04-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to go down a different path....the last nine weeks have been all about the positive side of our everyday lives.....now it's time to get REAL...LOL. So, hopefully you are all like me and have something you do (or don't do) that you know is bad for you (for your kids, etc.)....nothing horrible here.....but something that maybe if you were less lazy, had more free time, etc would do a bit differently. Maybe you coast through a certain stop sign where there are NEVER any other cars or you eat at McDonald's twice in one week or you don't back up your computer files.....and the list goes on. I'm officially calling this challenge the BAD IDEA....But I DO IT Anyway challenge!!

Oooohhhh yes...definately a bad idea! Credits can be found HERE

Reality #9

2007-04-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

Alright, the challenge is easy this week.....Show me your backyard!! Whatever you would consider your backyard to be.....ya know opposite your front door!! Don't clean or straighten it...show it in all its splendor.

Credits can be seen here.

Scrapping on a Budget

2007-04-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

I know that digi scrapping has become quite the commercial affair but sometimes life gets in the way and we just can't keep buying all the cool stuff we see. I had in mind to start a blog called scrapping on a budget and share freebies that exist around the web. Well two enterprising scrappers have beat me to it. They are doing such a great job I thought I would share their sites with you...

Scrapping With Ikea Goddess
Amy W.'s Scrap-A-Lot

Three products I love...

2007-04-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Today's blog prompt...
Free Advertising!! Are there three products in your life that you just love (favorite scrapping designer? a cleaning product that does what it claims? or your favorite restaurant?)? Tell us about them! (Add links and maybe we'll decide we can't live without them either )

MY COMPUTER
For many of us the first thing that will come to mind is our computers. I have a Dell. It is a Dimension 8200 and may be getting outdated by todays standards but I love it! It is my tool, it is my friend. I use it for business...to organize addresses and to do lists...to communicate with friends and family...in my digital scrapbooking hobby...to find recipes...to research products I am interested in...to get maps to places I am going...to pay my bills...to track investments...

I know I need to look into getting a new computer. But I feel like if it ain't broke don't change it. Yesterday I bought two 300 gb external hard drives. One to hold all my digital scrapbooking supplies, ezines, tutorials, articles etc. and get them off my hard drive. The second external drive????? Back up of the first one!!!!!

MY BIBLE
Toda y's Lig ht Bible
This is the bible I have been using for my daily Bible Reading.
Although I do get behind and then try to read multiple days readings in one evening (hopefully I am NOT the only person who does that!) This bible is nicely laid out, the print is a readable size and the verses are broken out by the recommended daily schedule.

MY MORNING CUP OF COFFEE

I love my morning cup of coffee but I am not a coffee snob. Some of the latest finds at my house are:

Folger's "The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!"

Trader Joe's French Roast Cuz I liked the pretty can.

MJB Coffee It was on sale and MJB are my mother's initials

Starbucks Not often but if I am desparate...

Gevalia Coffeemaker The coffee maker was free!

Changes...

2007-04-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

Today's blog prompt...
Spring always means change or growth. Any changes or growth going on in your life?

This spring has brought a big change in our life. My husband has retired after 31 years at the fire department.

Congratulations Randy! I've enjoyed the 31 year ride with you from Rookie to Captain. I am excited and looking forward to this new chapter of our lives.

March 22, 1976

to

March 31, 2007

It was a beautiful day today...

2007-03-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

The sun was out and I worked in the yard. I was happy to find that not everything has died over the winter. These viola's were looking quite colorful in their little terra cotta pot. I weeded, applied gallons of miracle grow and watered all my pots. It felt so good to get some fresh air and sunshine. It is obvious that spring is definately on its way.

Country is back...

2007-03-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

I have been so missing country music because the two stations near us do not have super strong signals and I could not get decent reception in my car. I'll listen to KFOG, my husband's favorite...I'll listen to the local station...I'll listen to my Jersey Boys soundtrack...but I have really missed my country music. The other night while watching TV there was a commercial for a new country music station...The Bay Area's Fresh Country 95.7 The Wolf. As many of you know, my name *Canay* came from our pet wolf. I thought that this new station was karma. The next day I anxiously turned my radio to 95.7 and wondered if I would get a good reception. Woo-hoo Randy Travis' Three Wooden Crosses was blaring from my speakers. I drove around for a while and wonderful country music played and never cut out once. It feels so good to listen to music that makes me smile. Click on the pic and check out my new favorite radio station:)

Today's blog prompt...

2007-03-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

If you had the opportunity for a day, to have a different job (and was totally qualified, trained and capable for that one day), what job would you like to do and why?

If I could for a day I would be a singer. I love music but I can not carry a tune. I know people say they can't sing when they sing just fine. But, believe me...I can't sing. So for a day I would love to just belt out beautiful music and make people happy.

5 things in my life that are important to me that begin with the same letter

2007-03-06T06:36:00.000-08:00

Family
Friends
Faith
Finances
Food

Reality #8

2007-03-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

Our challenge for week 8 is to do a layout about the things we could never give up. Of course there are many things I wouldn't want to give up like my husband, my kids, my computer... I chose to do a layout about the one thing that I can't go a day without...COFFEE! I don't know how to get the gif file to show up in blogger so CLICK on the layout to see the full effect. Credits for my coffee layout can be found here.

My Workspace

2007-03-04T13:34:00.000-08:00

This is a layout of my workspace that I did for the Eclectic Team Challenge #2 Workspaces (Credits for My Workspace can be found here.)

Yep, I cleaned up my desk, took a picture and did a layout just for a chance to win a random drawing for $5 to Studio Jessica. Check out here stuff...you'll see why. But don't run off and enter this challenge cuz you will hurt my chances:)

At what age did I feel most inspired?

2007-03-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

Main Entry: in·spire
Pronunciation: in-'spI(-&)r
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): in·spired; in·spir·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French inspirer, from Latin inspirare, from in- + spirare to breathe
transitive verb
1 a : to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration b : to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on inspired by the Romanticists> c : to spur on : IMPEL, MOTIVATE inspire people to work> d : AFFECT inspired him with nostalgia>

Love inspiration came at 18 when I met the man who would one day be my husband.
Business inspiration came in college around 19. I couldn't get into a class I needed for nursing and for some reason I took an accounting class. I sat in the accounting class and a light bulb went off. (I am now a CPA)
Artistic inspiration came in my late 40's. Yep it took a long time. I created my first digital scrapbook page and I was definitely inspired.

I guess we are inspired by different things at different times in our life. I wonder what my next inspiration will be???

Happy March 1st

2007-03-01T11:48:00.000-08:00

Here we are in a brand new month! March brings us many new things to think about for our scrapping pleasure.

The sun will start peeking out soon and it will be time to focus on our gardens. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension offers some tips on what to do in your garden in March. For people on the California west coast, The Univer sity of California Cooperative Extension also offers tips on what to do in your garden in March.

Fall Back/Spring Forward...
Some of us will be setting our clocks forward for daylight savings time at 2:00 am on Sunday, March 11th.

Here is an interesting site that has more info than you'll ever need to know about daylight savings time.

March 17th - St. Patricks Day
A day to wear green, eat corned beef and cabbage
and drink beer; even if you are not Irish! If you're feeling lucky you can click on the shamrock to download the png file. Thank you to Tandika Star of DigiScrapDesigner for the felt action used in making the shamrock.

On St. Patty's day I even listen to the CD I purchased when I was on vacation in Ireland. It brings back fond memories.

March 21st - Spring Officially Begins in the United States - Yeah!!!!!

I love spring...warmer days, flowers popping up, lighter clothes, sandles, Easter, the newness and freshness of the spring season ...Spring is my favorite season.

p.s. the cute spring title can be found at clipart.com

Amazing Grace...

2007-02-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

I saw the movie Amazing Grace last night. I thought it was a great movie. A wonderful testament about the challenges one man faced in order to change the opinion of so many. It is people like William Wilberforce who helped to shape the world that I know. I have never known slavery and for that I am grateful.

I did not know that the lyrics to Amazing Grace were written by a slave-trader. For some reason I had thought that they were written by a female slave. Guess I should have paid more attention in my history classes! But this slave trader *saw the light* and ultimately became a minister in England helping William Wilberforce in his campaign to end slave trading. Click on the music sheet to download a pdf file of the music. This is also available at the movie website.

Lyrics

Original verses

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,

And Grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that Grace appear,

The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

We have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And Grace will lead me home. (Lead me home!)

The Lord hast promised good to me,

His word my hope secures!

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this heart and flesh shall fail

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be for ever mine.

Many hymnbooks omit one or more of the last three verses, but add the following at the end:

When we've been here ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we'd first begun.

This verse is not by Newton, but has been attributed to John P. Rees (1828-1900) and was included in a 19th-century hymnal, Hymns Of The Christian Life. The verse was popularized in part by its inclusion in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), where it appeared with the two final verses of Newton's hymn (though in reversed order). These verses are said to be "a hymn, which he [Tom] had sung often in happier days."

Some versions include the verse:

Shall I be wafted through the skies,

On flowery beds of ease,

Where others strive to win the prize,

And sail through bloody seas.

This verse, borrowed from the Isaac Watts hymn "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?", has been included in recordings by Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie.

Note: The Lyrics were copied from Wikipedia

Flower Freebie

2007-02-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

A little flower that I made. It is a png file so just click the image then right click and choose save as.

I can do anything in Christ...

2007-02-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

I can do anything in Christ.
Philippians 4:13

Credits for layout can be found here.
Lyrics used in layout are by Michael A. Schmid
Lead Pastor St. John's Lutheran Church Napa

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet...

2007-02-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105

Credits for layout can be found here.

Look up at the heavens...

2007-02-27T10:11:00.000-08:00

"Look up at the heavens and count the stars, if indeed you can count them." Then God said to Abraham, "So shall your offspring be."
Genesis 15:5

Credits for the layout can be found here.

The flowers appear on the earth...

2007-02-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing birds is to come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land...
Song of Solomon 2:12

Credits for layout are here

Turn up a child in the way he should go...

2007-02-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

Turn up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

Credits can be found here.

A Friend Loves at all Times...

2007-02-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 17:17

Credits for the layout are here

Gorilla Habitat and Free Polaroid Frame

2007-02-27T04:25:00.000-08:00

Here is a little layout I did from our trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Credits here

I made the polaroid frames trying to get that pop off the page look to them. Not as good as the ones the designers make but if you would like to download the one I made and play around with it be my guest. Click on the frame below to download the png version.

Dictionary Definitions...

2007-02-24T18:19:00.000-08:00

Looking for the perfect definition for your layout. There is a dictionary look up box on the right side of my blot. The definitions are provided by The Free Dictionary by Farlex.

Reality #7

2007-02-24T08:17:00.000-08:00

For Week Seven, our mission is to scrap how you FEEL right NOW!! An emotion, a concern, a joy or just something you need to get out there. Thank goodness the day I read this I was feeling HAPPY! I wanted to scrap myself jumping up in the air, arms spread out, shouting for joy. Yeah...like I have a picture of me doing that! As I was thinking about being HAPPY...I started singing Zippity doo dah...Zippity ay...and an idea was born... My daughter took my husband and me to Disneyland for our birthdays. We all had a wonderful fun time, as you can see from the smiles on our faces. Scrapping myself and my daughter looking absolutely goofy but HAPPY seemed a good way to convey being HAPPY.

Credits for my layout can be found here. The reality challenge is going on at ScrapbookGraphics. You can find info on it in the challenge forum.

Using Labels in Blogspot

2007-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Don't you feel goofy sometimes when you discover something really neat, and when you proceed to tell people about it everyone else already seems to know about it????? Well I just discovered the label feature in Blogspot. Pretty cool. At the end of each post there is a label. If you click on the label all posts with that label on it will show up. Pretty nifty little feature. So you probably already knew about this...makes me wonder what other fun little features are hiding in blogspot!!!!!

I'm not sure if anyone will use them but so far I have two labels set up. Bible for all my bible reading spiritual layouts and Freebies for the scrapping elements that I share.

ETA: and look at the side bar...right under the dictionary look up box...I added my labels and it shows how many posts there are for each label.

My apologies...

2007-02-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I shared a *Clutter* definition tag. I started working on my Clutter layout and realized that the tag was not on a transparent background. For some reason when Windows was reloaded, my settings in PSP must have changed because the png file was saved with a white background. I have corrected it and you can click on the image in the original post to get the file with a transparent background.

As a small token to make up for my boo-boo...here is the same tag without the words. Just double click on the image...when the new image appears...right click and choose *save as* to download the png file.

Freebie Definition Tag

2007-02-20T09:22:00.000-08:00

Flylady's February habit is to Declutter 15 minutes a day. Here is a little Clutter Definition Tag I made for a layout I have in mind to do. Feel free to download the tag and use it in any of your layouts. It is a png file and you can download it by right clicking on the image and choosing *save as*.

If you have NO idea who Flylady is and you live in CHAOS (can't have anybody over syndrome) check out Flylady's website.

I have a Flylady Album over at Digital Scrapbook Place if you would like to see my flylday layouts.

2/23/07 ETA: The png file has been re-uploaded because the first one did not have a transparent background! Also, I gave the wrong instructions for downloading...do NOT right click on the image in the blog. Double click on the image first...when the file appears, right click and choose *save as* to download the png file.

Reality #6

2007-02-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

Credits for layout can be found here.

Our reality challenge for week six is about our car. Here is a little *car* incident that happened last November. Just slowing down to park and *wham*. Months later....I am still wary in parking lots. It seems if I am backing out, no one stops for me...but when I am driving along, people just want to back right into me. This is one of those life just is not fair things. It doesn't matter if I am the one backing up or the one driving...the other person thinks they have the right of way!!!!!

Reality Scraps - Week Six

OK...this will be short as I have a badly sprained ankle and can't sit at the computer long or my ankle starts throbbing...ugh....i'm such a klutz.

Thanks to my Studio Crew Colleague, Kait, our next challenge is to scrap your car (or whatever your mode of transportion is!!). It can be as easy as just your current car or some aspect of your car - how horribly dirty it is...maybe like your fridge..LOL, or why you love/hate the color, or a nice big scratch or dent that you just live with, or what you carry in your trunk in case of emergency (my mom's is absolutely filled with just about everything you could ever need if you broke down anywhere in the US!!).

Can't wait to see what you bring to this week's challenge and thank you Kait for the idea!!

As always I have a little posting bonus for those that play along....preview to follow...

The Jersey Boys...

2007-02-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Did you catch the song on my blog here? I turned automatic play off so just click the play button over on the left.

My friends and I saw The Jersey Boys in December. The rendention they did of Frankie Valli's *Can't Take my Eyes off of You* was fabulous.

We enjoyed the play so much. It brought back fond memeories of listening to their music on the oldie station when I was a teenager. Their music is so romantic, happy and upbeat. I still enjoy it. My daughter got me the sound track for Christmas and I listen to it every time I am in the car. It is great to listen to in the car cuz I can sing at the top of my lungs and not *irritate* anyone with my tone deaf singing voice:)

Credits for the layout can be found here.