Tuesday, February 28, 2017

02/28/17 - "SIlver Linings Playbook"

Happy Last Day of February...
already!
 
Boy time sure does fly; we are already entering the 3rd month of the New Year!
 
Today I bring you a layout I recently created that captures an important moment....
An "everyday" moment!
 
Yes, time flies and it's important to capture all aspects of our lives!
That's why I decided to create a layout about a great Friday morning I recently had.
Luckily for me that great Friday morning wound up being a great Day!
 
 
 
"Silver Linings Playbook"
Journaling:
"Happy Fri-yay to me!
Breakfast at IHOP w/ my husband and then a stroll through Target, to burn off some of the breakfast calories, where I found one of my favorite movies on Blu-Ray for only $4! Cha-Ching!

Food: Leftovers of my Turkey Avocado Bennie on Brioche Bread; I ate all the hash browns! 2.24.17"
 
 
The BG paper I've had in my stash for about a year and since neither of my children play sports, I thought I'd never use it...
It certainly came in handy here!
 
How bout you? Do you make it a point to included "everyday" moments in your scrapping?
 
 
 
 
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For the following SB.com February Challenges:

>Movie
*INCLUDES TWIST* of Love Story

>Food
*INCLUDES TWIST* of Date Night (in my case it was Date Morning)

>Sticker
25 Total
- Alphas (21)
- Stars (2)
- "awesome"
-Sun and Clouds
*NO TWIST*

>Hoarders
26 total
-BG paper
-Alphas (21)
-Stars (2)
-Yellow paper (circle) .... from a packet I bought when I first started scrapping over 15 years ago)!
-Sun and Clouds sticker
*NO TWIST*

>Scraps
1 Total
-Yellow paper (circle)
*NO TWIST*
 
 

Monday, February 27, 2017

02/27/17 - February "Ugly Paper" Challenge

Good Morning!
Just sharing one of my latest layouts!
 
For the February Ugly Paper Challenge.

Reminder of the rules:

1. After signing up, the host gives your name and address to another participant
2. The other participant sends you 2 "ugly" papers and at least one ugly embellishment
3. You MUST use both papers; the embellishment(s) is optional
4. You are allowed to use other items as well, as long as the 2 "ugly" papers are included in the layout
5. You are allowed to alter the papers and, if used, the embellishment(s) but they must still be recognizable
 
 
 
February "Uglies"
 
 
 
"Pigs Feet"

Journaling: "Pigs Feet... Not for eating, for holding!
Cuddles w/ Hamlet. 2.24.17"
 

*Oops I just realized I wrote "2016" not "2017" I need to fix that - DOH!
 

In case you can't tell, the Ugly Papers are the PP used for the large heart and the "baby" PP used for the large circle.
I also used some of the "ugly embellishments" - 7 heart stickers.

 
Fun fact: I hate "baby" PP, even for Baby Photo layouts.
Have I used them before? Probably, can't remember, but I'm sure not very many...because as I said I hate them...
Okay "hate" is a strong word, but you get it.
So receiving a Baby PP in the "Ugly Paper" challenge was definitely....challenging!


Having said that, I also have to say, this is one of my favorite layouts ever created and definitely my favorite "Ugly Paper" layout!
I love everything about it and looking at it makes me happy!




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Also for the following SB.com February Challenges:

>Inspired by a Word
I used "Love"

>Hoarders
13 Total
-Alphas (8)
- button
- "together"
- "love" PL Card
- Hexi heart
- File/Journaling tab
*NO TWIST*

>Stickers
20 Used
- Alphas (8)
- hearts (8)
- button
- "together"
- pig
- file/journaling tab
*INCLUDES TWIST* - pink alphas

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

02/15/17 - "Sit Still, Look Pretty"

Hey there! Hi there!
How are you all?!
 
I'm doing okay...
I've been a bit stressed out lately but I'm trying my best to take it in stride.
Life...is ...stressful, amirite?!
 
Anyway I am here today to share this layout:
 
 
"Sit Still Look Pretty" 
 
 
Just a couple of cute photos of our cat Panini.
I created this the same day I created "Netflix Cat"... I guess I was just in the mood to scrap our kitty?!

Some things I wanted to point out about this layout:

>> Title was for a Challenge over at SB.com; the "February Music" Challenge
This is for Category #2 - Song Title
I chose "Sit Still, Look Pretty" by Daya
Aren't the photos perfect (or should I say purrrrr-fect?!) for that title!!!
*INCLUDES TWIST* of using red.




>> The BG, and overall design, was inspired by the SB.com Round Robin Challenge.
Here was the starting inspiration and the layout that proceeded mine; I was #2 on my team:

Inspiration:                                                         Week #1:
                                                                           
     

I wanted to keep w/ the striped BG but was too lazy to create it so I went w/ an already printed PP as my BG even though none of the stripes were lopsided as per the sketch.
*INCLUDES TWIST* of using flowers.



>> I cut the photo on the left into a circle because
 - 1) it came out darker than I expected when it was printed
 - 2) I had included way too much of the BG scenery in the photo
Both rookie mistakes! UGH! LOL!
So to make the photo stand out a little better I cut it into a circle that would cause an extreme close-up of our precious kitty and mounted it to a large Project Life Card to give it more "strength".



>> The BG paper and the PP used for the circle and bottom strip of paper is the other side of the BG paper and the PP I used for 2 of the circles on"Netflix Cat".
W/ most Scrapbook Paper packs you get doubles of each sheet so that you can use both sides.
IDK about you but I sometimes have trouble trying to decide what side of a double sided paper to use so when I can use both, I try really hard too!

Here are the papers I used:

      

The only thing I am a bit unhappy w/ is on this layout since I used the "non-kitty" themed side, I feel like the layout doesn't feel very "pet-like",  KWIM?
That obviously is not the case w/ the other layout!


Finally...
>> Other than the big red heart, which is directly printed on the Project Life Card, the entire row of embellishments at the bottom are stickers I've had in my stash for many, many, many years!
Glad to finally have a good use for them!

Hope you're having and continue to have a good week!
TFSB!





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Created for the following SB.com February challenges:

>National ___________ Day
For "National Love Your Pet Day"
*NO TWIST* none given

>Scrap Your Pet
*INCLUDES TWIST* of Red, White, and Pink

>Round Robin
I was player #2 on my team
*INCLUDES TWIST* of flowers

>Music Challenge
Category #2 - Song Title
I used "Sit Still Look Pretty" by Daya
*INCLUDES TWIST* of red

>Scraps
I used 2 scraps
-Pink polka dot paper (in 2 places)
-Yellow square
*NO TWIST*

>Hoarders
29 items
-Alphas (19)
-PL card
-Heart
-Flowers (8)
*NO TWIST*

>Sticker
I used 31
-Alphas (19)
-Hearts (3)
-Flowers (8)
-"Such a Pretty Kitty"
*NO TWIST*

 

Sunday, February 12, 2017

02/13/17 - MIM Sketch #82

 
Happy Monday and Happy Holiday...if you get today off of work like I do! ::fist pump::
Today is Lincoln's Birthday... I think...
Don't really care, LOL
It's also Monday, specifically "Make It Monday"!
The new sketch is up at the "The Memory Nest" blog.
 
 
Here it is for your viewing pleasure:
 
 
 
 
 
"MIM #82"
 
 
 

"Netflix Cat"
Journaling (Main): "Trying to watch Netflix but someone won't let me!
Guess I'll just watch the walls instead... 2.11.17"
(Sub): "At least now I can see!"
 
 
I don't have a problem using just one photo on a layout, in fact I frequently do so, but I do enjoy it when I can use more than one, especially when the sketch I'm using only calls for one photo, AND when I can still keep the integrity of the original sketch.
As you can see despite the use of 3 additional photos I still followed the sketch pretty closely!
 
All the PPs on here are cat-themed patterned.
I specifically chose the red PP because Netflix's logo color is red.
BTW - that Red PP and the "cat tag" have both been in my stash since June 2014.
 
Part of the journaling, "...'watch the walls instead..." is part of a lyric from a song.
It was included in order to complete a challenge I'm in over at SB.com; the "Musical Inspiration" challenge.
The song chosen for me was: "Friday, I'm in Love" by the Cure. 
*THE TWIST* was to not use the word 'love' on our layout.
I met the twist which I thought would be impossible to do!
 
 
That's all from me today!
Hope you enjoy your Monday and that you have a chance to join us in the challenge; you have until February 28th.
 
 
 
 
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Also included in the following February SB.com Challenges:
 
>Scrap Your Pet
*INCLUDES TWIST* of Red, White, and Pink
 
>National ___________ Day
For "National Love Your Pet Day"
*NO TWIST* none given
 
>Not to be Squared
Use shapes other than squares (or rectangles) as the main part of your layout
I used 3 large circles
*NO TWIST* none given
 
>Hoarders
3 Items:
-The cat tag
-The red and black PP
-The arrow
*NO TWIST*
 
>Stickers
14 stickers:
-Alphas (7)
-hearts (2)
-"Cat"
-Cat tag
-arrow
-file tab/journaling tags (2)
*NO TWIST*  
 


Friday, February 10, 2017

02/10/17 - Still Blogging and My Reading Challenge

Hello!

I wanted to thank all who responded to my question: Why Do You Blog?
There were a variety of answers and some of you are in the same boat as me as far as not having a lot of followers, well "active" followers at least, and that made me feel a bit better about my situation. 
I loved learning why you still continued to blog even when it felt like you really had no audience.
I appreciate the responses for those of who have reasons for blogging that are different from mine also, such as family or business-related needs.
All your responses caused me to think more on the subject and I realized, like some of you, I just really like sharing my stories and projects even if not that many people see or care about them!
It's another great creative release for me!
I do explain my layouts, the story behind them and/or the creative process of making them on SB.com, but not as much or in as much detail as I feel I can here.
Plus I noticed that although I don't get a lot of comments I do get a lot of visitors to my posts and I thought that maybe the reason I don't get many comments is you have to have a blog and/or Google account in order to leave a comment and not a lot of people do (if that's not true, don't burst my bubble, LOL)!
Also I know I enjoy reading blogs even if I don't always leave a comment and perhaps people feel the same about mine (again, don't correct me if I'm wrong, hahahahahahaha)!
So for now at least I will continue to share my projects here, even those that are not Design Team related.
.......

Now on to another subject.
If you take a look of the tag line to my blog, you will see that it says: "Art, Books, and Randomness".
I think I've done a great job covering the "art" and "randomness" parts, but "books".... not-so-much!
Last year I set a goal to read 12 books.
1 a month should've been easy but I failed; I only read 7 total books for the year.
I love to read, normally, but last year I just couldn't get into it!

This year I'm going to try that 12 book goal again. 
I finished reading my first book; I was not impressed:


Image result for detour from normal book image
Summary:
Despite access to the greatest healthcare in the world, U.S citizens are not immune to medical horror stories. Such was the experience of Ken Dickson, a beloved husband and father and respected engineer, with no history of mental illness. What should have been an ordinary surgical procedure changed that, propelling him into a high security psychiatric ward where psychiatrists branded him a danger to himself and others.
This gut wrenching novel is leaving readers shocked at the author’s treatment, and appalled by how quickly a medical situation fell through the cracks, sending the patient spiraling uncontrollably into medically induced madness.
This novel is not, however, only about Ken. It is the story of two people deeply in love, but torn apart by fate, an eye-opening introduction to the stigma of mental illness, and a personal run-in with the poor broken souls trapped in psychiatric care. It is a rich and varied exploration of our humanity written from the unique perspective of someone suffering from mental illness.
Detour from Normal is a novel that you cannot afford to ignore, with a message that you will not want to dismiss: tomorrow, next year, or five years from now, this could happen to you.
 
Sounds good huh?!
I found it to be good at the beginning but it eventually got really boring really fast!
It took me 2 weeks to finish and I forced myself to keep reading it because I figured all the "rave reviews" couldn't be wrong; they were!
I would not recommend this book.
.
Well, I'm off to a bad start... but at least I finished it! 1 down, 11 more to go.

Anybody else have any reading goals this year?

Monday, February 6, 2017

02/06/17 - MIM #81


Hello, hello!
If you have time, please stop by the "The Memory Nest" Blog because "Make It Monday" Sketch #81 is up and ready to inspire!

 Here is the sketch:


I used a rotated version of it for my layout:




"SING"


Besides rotating it I also moved the title.
If you're wondering... yes, I bought the stickers special for this layout.
I came across them at Michaels's and knew they'd be PERFECT for these photos!

Hope you find some inspiration and scrappy time so you can join us this month!
Don't forget to link up your layout to be in the running for a prize!



Friday, February 3, 2017

02/03/17 - "Apple Pie"

My last blog post inspired me to share another old-but-never-been-shared layout.
The location of the photos is the same place as the location in the last layout, though a different day, which is why I was inspired.
 
Here it is!
 
 
 
"Oak Glen Apple Pie"
Journaling:
"I do not like pie...
But this pie right here, from Riley's at Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, is da bomb!
It's apple pie with thick chunks of apple, grown in the orchards on the premises, mixed with lots of cinnamon and baked inside a thick crumbly cookie-like crust... I topped mine with vanilla ice cream for that extra pop of yumminess!!
Best...apple pie... EVER!
.
BTW - My husband and I got totally "apple wasted" today!
Besides the pie, and hot chocolates (regular for him, vanilla for me) we had:
-Iced Cinnamon Caramel Apple Cider
-an Apple Sauce Raisin cookie
-samples of Hard Apple Cider, and
-a Caramel Apple (w/nuts).
Good thing we shared it all and went on a hike before hand; I hit 12,000 steps by 2pm."
 
 
 
As I did w/ this layout: This Town, I printed my journaling directly from Instagram on photo paper and adhered it as if it was an actual photo.
Love that technique for long journaling!
 
 
 
BTW this photo of me makes me laugh because it reminds me of the "Kermit the Frog, None of my Business" meme. If you're not familiar w/ it here is one version of it:
 
 
 


Image result for kermit the frog none of my business meme

Do you see the resemblance?! LOL!

 
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For the Following SB.com December Challenges:

>National _______ Day
I was inspired by December 1st; National Pie Day
*NO TWIST* - None given

>Food Challenge
*NO TWIST*

>Sticker Challenge
I used 9:
-apples (3)
-basket of apples
-heart
-kraft banner
-"sweet"
-leaf
-"Autumn Harvest"
*INCLUDES TWIST* - use stickers from at least 3 different sheets
I used stickers from 4 different sheet sets

>Hoarders
8 items
-6 (of the 9) stickers
-both PPs
(the circle paper was bought from the Target Dollar Spot YEARS ago! The BG is YEARS old also!)
*NO TWIST*

Thursday, February 2, 2017

02/02/17- TBT November "Round Robin" Challenge

 
 
As I am a little behind on blogging I realized I forgot to share this with you.
I have nothing else new to share at this time so I figured I'd do a Throw Back Thursday post; AKA #TBT
 
This was created for the SB.com November Round Robin Challenge.
 
As always I like to explain the rules first:
 
"There are teams of 4 people, one person for each week, similar to a relay race. The person assigned for week 1 in each group will start their team off with a layout depending on what the specs and twist will be. Then the following week, everyone assigned to week 2 will lift off their week 1 team member and so on. It's fun to see how a lift progresses from the first week to the fourth."
 
 
This time I was the 4th person on my team.
 
 
Here is the proceeding layouts/projects (NOT created by me):
 
Starting inspiration: 
 
 Week 1:

Week 2:
 
Week 3:
 


Before I share mine, Week 4,  let me share the story behind it:
 
Oak Glen, CA is a place my family and I love to visit frequently!
 
I'm finding the words to explain the place a bit difficult right now so I will just copy and paste this little blurb I copied from their website:


"Take a visit to Oak Glen -
Five Mile Loop of 30+ Ranches, Farms & Businesses
Open Daily anytime of the year.
You will see one of the most scenic spots in Southern California"

Also, here is a link to their website: Oak Glen
 
Our favorite things to do there is go hiking and then enjoy a slice of  apple pie à la mode with a cup of hot chocolate.
Lately, because the kids are getting older, my husband and I go by ourselves.
 
We recently went w/ a couple of friends who were visiting from out of state.
While there we took lots of photos, but one of my very favorites was this "selfie" David took of us!

Later on he used a photo editing app to change the photo to B&W w/ just a few splashes of color showing through.
I liked it so much I scrapped both versions of the photo on one page:


 
 "Hello Autumn"

Journaling: Oak Glen 11.26.16
 

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Also entered into the following  SB.com November Challenges:

>Sticker Challenge
8 Stickers
- leaves (5)
- photo corners (2)
- Title
*NO TWIST*

>Hoarders
Everything (except -maybe- the black cardstock)
BG is from the Target Dollar Spot bought SEVERAL years ago.
*NO TWIST*

>Scraps W/ Your Scraps
2 Scraps
- black cardstock
- orange cardstock
*NO TWIST*
The Round Robin was the MAIN inspiration, and I was the last on my team,  so I will also show you the inspirational projects that proceeded mine (these were not created by me):
 
 
 


03/27/23 Planning with Urban Journal Season Ink

My printer was having issues and I fixed it but during the interim I was not scrapping and lost my mojo ::le sigh:: But I've still been ...