Tag Archives: scrapbooking

Apr 30

Times, they are a changin’….

Hello! It’s been a while since I was last here, and I owe you all an apology! My daughter and I have moved to our own place, I’m working a lot, spending a good amount of time trying to take care of myself (soul-searching, reading, journaling), and moving mountains (or so it feels) to get myself back to college so I may at some point in the future (crossing my fingers) become an RN.

I have been needing some changes in my life, and if I were a car, I guess you’d say I am in need of an overhaul. A major one. It has been a rocky road for me lately, but I’m doing what I need to do to become a better person, and this journey is not a walk through the park. It’s more like the yellow brick road where sometimes I’m dancing along just fine, and at other times I stumble across a road block…..but I keep on going, and I’m bound for the “Emerald City”. Also known as self-fulfillment and happiness. Wish me luck!

One thing I have not changed is my love for scrapping and documenting my life, good and bad. Thank goodness for Project Life which lets me do just that, only at my own pace which can sometimes be quickly, sometimes slowly, but lately quite steady and on track. I just haven’t shared anything yet (I’m rather slow at this blogging thing!). I showed a snippet of week 11 last post, and I am ready to share weeks 12 through 17. Be warned, this is photo heavy!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHello to Fadhilah, my sweet friend! I was so touched by her email to me a while back asking where I’ve been because she enjoys following me, and I must say I didn’t realize I had such followers! She is kind, intelligent and fun to talk with (through emails); we share our experiences of motherhood and scrapbooking. She is a joy, and I have learned that whatever country, culture or religion a woman belongs to, we all have more in common than we may realize. Thank you, Fadhilah! You are a blessing to me.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis is the inside of the folded card with “School Days” and the typewriter on it; it also contains the business card of the counselor I had a meeting with. This was a very special day for me; the counselor was so supportive and friendly, and when I left, I literally broke down in tears I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I’m really going back to school!! It was a dare I gave myself, and I didn’t chicken out. Amazing! The doubt and fear I have been harboring inside for the last 20 years has kept me stuck in one place. It’s time to stop spinning my wheels, face the challenges head on, and grow. I look forward to documenting and scrapping this journey, too.

Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to open up a little piece of my life to you, and thank you to my family and friends for being so supportive. I may not have all the time in the world to blog as much as I’d like, but trust me, I’ll be back as soon as I can. Happiness and best wishes to all of you,

Jennifer

[Oh- I almost forgot to give credit to Becky Higgins' Project Life for the base of the album (including the small page add-on for two 4x6" photos); Studio Calico for the majority of the journal cards and embellishments; Lawn Fawn for some of the wood veneer elements and paper clips; Ormolu for badges; Elle's Studio for journal tags, and Michael's for most of the washi tape.]

 

 

Nov 10

Saturday Morning Vintage: good stuff!

Today I got my package in the mail from Saturday Morning Vintage. Somehow I discovered this treasure on Etsy, and fell in love with the vintage findings. This gifted and talented owner is a

  • frequent visitor of our local farmer’s market and flea market.
  • collector of old things with a soft spot for vintage paper and buttons.

quote, unquote.

Love her. I think I get this from my mother; we used to ‘garage sale’ as a kid, and go to ‘flea markets’ as well, which I hated because I did not fully appreciate it. I do now. While I’m not particularly interested in waking up at 5 am to find the best garage or estate sales, and no flea market in my area could ever conduce me to leave my house,  (lazy?) I am still quite interested in what others come up with. It’s the nostalgia, perhaps; or genetics (my grandmothers were both famous for their hoarding of family treasures), but I find something comforting and lovely about looking at authentic, retro, vintage things. And paper is something I especially love. After all, that’s the basis of Retrospect. An appreciation for documenting stories, memories and mementos of our lives- past and present- with photos, written words, ephemera and souvenirs. I can’t help but sit and think about what these items represent; the photos of the men (who are they? what are the stories behind the photos?); the stamps (I remember collecting some as a child); the flash card; the airmail envelopes…each item carries value and a piece of history.  

I was so excited, I just ripped open the package, but this was what was inside.

Cool cards. But, I can't imagine what the one on the right is all about.

I love opening packages. It's my birthday and Christmas all over again.

Looks identical to what I saw in the Etsy shop. Can't wait to break this baby open!!

“]

This is an important element here: I'm crazy about washi tape!! [Where'd she get this one...I want it...

Good stuff.

Someone's handwriting in pencil. I'd love to know the story. Who is George Smith?

...the rest...

No, okay, this really is the rest. I have never seen a "circular" playing card. Wow.

"But wait, there's more!

This add-on package has a really cool vintage photo booth strip on the front of a postcard, as well as some really neat graph papers, and patterned papers. I really wanted this too, and there was a discount coupon code for this which could have been added to the original order. Unfortunately, I only found this discount after I put in my order. So, I quickly went back to the shop and added and email with the coupon code ….and soon after found out that the offer had expired….What a dork you are, Jennifer!  I left it alone knowing she would figure out exactly how much of a dork I am.

But it came. The girl is awesome, I’m telling you. She must have somehow sensed how dorky I felt and sent a left-over, anyway. Too cool for school. I can’t wait to use this stuff! I am inspired by what she’s done in her mini-albums, and that’s what I aspire to. I just need to get past Christmas and all that entails, and I will do some serious scrappin’! I’ve even pinned her on Pinterest. I’m so excited; I have to pass on to you this blog/Etsy shop one more time: Saturday Morning Vintage.  Love to scrap? Into Mini albums? Vintage/Retro junkie? Flea market enthusiast? You won’t be sorry!

Sep 4

Day 4: Sweet Love

It’s simple Sunday. I like simple. Simple’s the word!

That’s an Instagram photo. Isn’t Instagram great?

Something I discovered yesterday that I didn’t mention (because I knew I would do it here  ;-) is a new place for scrapbook/art/craft inspiration: Studio Calico‘s Pinterest boards. I love Pinterest, and I pin there occasionally and do look around, but something on Twitter caught my eye and it was a link to one of Studio Calico‘s boards on Pinterest…and my mouth dropped open in amazement! It is filled to the gills with incredible talent, art, crafts, ideas, everything! I now have it bookmarked on my desktop to check out any time I need an idea or two. Check it out and be prepared to be amazed yourself!

May 10

Let the bookmaking begin!

thank you, Mr. UPS man!

Yesterday I found presents on our porch from the friendly UPS man (nice guy; he knows us pretty well by now…): big stuff that took two trips to get inside the house! My kind of presents!! We received our first shipment from Bookmaker’s Inc.; an awl, waxed Irish linen thread, PVA glue, book cloth, and davey board (book board). The needles and photo tissue will hopefully be coming today or tomorrow (fingers crossed), but I don’t see why I can’t go ahead and start cutting the fabric and starting the planning since Hubby has already taken the board to a framing place to get it cut to size. Boy, are those boards thick and sturdy! I know what kind of stab binding I want to use, I just need to get some more directions on how to

make the extra stitches. I am SO nervous! I have never done this before, and I am so afraid to make a mistake! I suppose the only way to get over that is to roll up my sleeves and just get on with it! So today, after this post is finished, I will. I’m having fun

The hubby and I liked this color fabric best.

documenting the process just for my own sense of posterity, so I will more than likely have more photos and progress notes here tomorrow. Please: if there is anyone out there reading this that has any advice or thoughts to send my way, by all means, DO! I can use all the encouragement/help/advice/ideas/warnings etc. that I can get!

I also did manage to get one more layout completed before I get too involved in book binding. We had gone to dinner at a friend’s house last Saturday evening, which was our first time there, and we had a really great time. Of course, being myself, I had to take some photos. There were just too many things I wanted to capture and document! I forbade myself from bringing the camera since I know it always irritates my family when I become “mammarazzi”, but I just couldn’t help myself, and used my iPhone, instead. Ha! The pics I got are not the best, primarily because I was trying to photograph quickly and covertly. At least I have a sense of the evening and the good time that we had. I first put the photos into a template, then I made another hybrid version for my scrapbook. Just for fun, here are both versions:

digital version

hybrid version, and yes, I did change the 8!

In both, I used Ormolu tags–she now has digital ones available on her web site, which is so awesome, I think. For the title on my non-digital version, I used a white Sharpie poster paint pen and a stencil right on top of the photo. So Ali Edwards! Not much else used, except kraft cardstock; I just wanted the layouts to be about the photos. I am hoping to sneak in some time to do a Mother’s Day layout at some point, I know Hubby is going to be cracking the whip here, about this book we’re doing! Anyway, thanks for dropping by, and happy crafting!

May 8

Last minute layouts

Well, I did as much as I could. On Saturday, I was given 12 scrapbook challenges by the good people at Big Picture Classes and Creating Keepsakes, but I was only able to take on 7. Not bad for a slow scrapper! Here I will show you the last layouts I submitted:

Mountain Art and Garden

Old Bottles

Snapshot

I had so much fun scrapping this weekend. I have some wonderful memories, new inspiration, and just a teeny bit more confidence. Thank you, BPC and CK!!

May 7

Having a blast over here!

Wow, this has been an awesome day, so far! The buzz over at Big Pictures Classes is wild with friendly, inspiring scrapbookers; we’re sharing tips and ideas, blog addresses and digital images. Every hour presents a new scrapbook challenge as well as prize giveaways, and a live chat with a scrapbook guru! So inspiring, so fun! I have managed to complete only one challenge layout thus far; I seem to be having too much fun in the chat rooms to do the work I should be doing! Oh, well!

Challenge #1: using text on a layout

The text strips I used came from old books I have.

I also got an idea to scan some sewing patterns into my computer so others may use them in digital layouts, or to print them out and use on a traditional layout or book.

These sewing pattern images can be found on my Flickr site.

AND– I will be giving away a goodie bag of free scrapbook supplies to one lucky person! Now, these are not the latest and greatest things; I will admit that I am trying to clean out my stash, but there will be a fairly good assortment of papers, stickers, ephemera and ribbons! Leave a comment, and/or “like” me on Facebook, and I will choose someone Sunday morning at 1000 PST to receive some free scrap goodies! Good luck!

May 4

This is what 45 looks like.

Yep. I was born 45 years ago, today. You know, it’s not really a big deal to me. I feel okay about where I am in my life; my age is just a number, and I don’t feel old at all. I don’t feel that much different today than I felt at 25. Except that I feel better about myself, wiser, a little more confident, and I have a keener sense of direction in life. And I’m not quite as stupid! Sometimes I think that our 20′s are just an extension of our teenage years, except that we can legally drink, and vote. I am so glad I am not there anymore. I like it better, here. As in being 45.

In celebration of today being my day, I did what I love to do best: scrapbook. After finishing some more work on Hubby’s book (title page: check; epilogue: check; statement page: check), I was itching to make a layout for my scrapbook. I have had my eye on one of Ali Edwards’ pages from Valentine’s Day, so today was the day I “scraplifted” it to make a similar page of my own.

Hubby

It’s been a great day. Happiness to all of you, too!

Mar 17

Fish and chips and Guiness…

My offering for today is yet another layout. I thought about this last night, and I realize that most of what anyone sees here is about scrapbooking, and consists of layouts. At first I felt bad; I was thinking that my post-a-day comrades may get a little tired of it, but then I reminded myself that that is what my blog is all about! Scrapbooks, layouts, stories to tell. I find that the best way for me to tell my stories is in scrapbook format. So, ladies and gentlemen, here you have my St. Patrick’s Day layout, done digitally. I will do it again with paper to put into my album, and I will be as happy as a little leprechaun!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and the luck o’ the Irish to ya!

Feb 27

Disorderly conduct rules the day

Riot, tumult, turbulence, unruliness, commotion, anarchy, mob rule, disarrangement, confusion, untidiness, unmanageable, wayward, fractious, disobedience, unsystematic, chaotic, unmethodical….MESS. 

This is why I have managed to make 4 cards today. F-O-U-R. That’s it. I am shameless. Note to readers: don’t let this happen to you! FEMA can’t even help me at this point. Terrible.

Next time, I will get organized; I will have a plan of action, I will get out only the supplies I actually need, I will use the dining room table (it’s bigger). I will punch shapes, cut ribbon, stamp paper, and work in a more systematic way. I hope. Nonetheless, here are the cards I was able to complete (I may do more, but I want to eat dinner early and watch the Oscars!). I will be making some for my shop on Etsy and ArtFire, and some will be for my family to use.

I just couldn’t help myself and had to make one more layout. I found some photos from last summer that I hadn’t done anything with yet, and I took advantage of my creative momentum.

Until next time, J.