Scrapbooking

Picture Fall & ScrapTiffany Monday

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Where did this past week go? I never did fit in blogging towards the end of the week. I got involved in creating my first photo book and finished that up Friday night. I am not really a digital scrapper, but I didn't like the templates on the photo book site, so I visited Designer Digitals and picked out a kit, frame, and some digital stamps and made my own. I am pretty happy with how it looks on the screen.  I can't wait to see the final project. I can't wait to see how it comes out. I think I am going to do another photo book for my current photo project.  I signed up for Picture Fall over at Big Picture Classes. It is a nice complement to the photography class I am taking with Maggie Holmes. The chance is giving more ideas to play with the camera, without always having to chase around one of the kiddos. The class started October 1st, but registration is open until October 6th if you want to join me. The daily photo prompt, great gallery and message board are great inspiration. Here are my first 4 days. I am keeping a journal off my thoughts on each day's picture. Then I will be ready to put it and the photo together for my photo book.

October 1st, 2010
 Fall. Not really in Arizona. It is still well over 100 degrees and fall foliage is not anywhere near us yet. But inside our home you can find fall all around us.
October 2nd, 2010
 A peaceful spot to relax, read and chat with Mike when the house is quiet and all little boys are asleep.
October 3rd, 2010
 No real fall leaves in Arizona, maybe in December or January it will look like Fall? Our only brown leaves are from leftover tree clippings caught in a vibrant hibiscus.
October 4th, 2010
Ready to Brew…these three words make me happy.
Mark your calendars. We are having a blog hop over at ScrapTiffany November 8th & 9th. Lots of holiday inspiration and giveaways are planned.
This weeks assignment was to use this sketch by one of ScrapTiffany's own designers, Keely
Here was my take on it...
Head on over to ScrapTiffany and check out the other ladies work and give the sketch a try this week.
Happy Monday!

Bazzill Warehouse Sale Goodies & ScrapTiffany Monday

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This week's ScrapTiffany challenge was to use your scraps. This was a perfect way to clear some stuff off my desk. I keep a little bucket of bits of leftovers on my desk, so I dug through there to see what might work with this leftover double sided paper that was sitting on my desk:

And by adding a little more this and that, I came up with this birthday card, which is now on it's way to my brother. (Happy Birthday Michael!)
Head on over to ScrapTiffany and see what the other girls did with there scraps!
Saturday morning you could have found me here...

at the Bazzill Warehouse sale. I hadn't gone in since at least 2007. When we were running our kit club Color Me Daisy, the last thing I needed was more scrapbooking supplies. I had plenty. Even after closing it down and selling off all of our inventory there was one very important thing I held back.  Every sheet of Bazzill Kraft cardstock I had. As well as a couple other basic colors. Everything else was sold...gone.

Now I am back in the consumer shopping mode when it comes to scrapbook supplies, and of course like most people I can't resist the opportunity for a deal. So there I was at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday morning, getting my Starbucks nonfat, no whip pumpkin spice latte and heading over to the Bazzill to wait in line with the other eager beavers.

It wasn't as crowded as the last time I went. So it was pretty relaxing to shop. I met 2 online friends in person at the sale, which was fun to finally get to do.

My goal was to get out of there for under a $100. How do you think I did?  You'll see at the end of my post, as well as get an idea of how much I saved...

First here is a peak of my very full bag. They had bags from Creative Escape for $2.00. Easier to carry then a box, so I picked one up and started filling.

First I filled a pizza box with cardstock for $20. I didn't count the actual number of sheets but I think in years past it averaged about 110 sheets fit in a box.
The mistake I have always made in the past is buying colors I don't use, like pinks and purples. So this time I stuck with my most used colors that they had available (no Kraft, but I don't really need it I still have about 150 sheets).
I picked up a few of the embossed, edged, and blinged cardstock papers they have some colors and styles available to put in the pizza box so I thought I would try it out. The white embossed paper doesn't show up in the picture, but I want to see if you can resist it with ink or mist.
The also had a 12 paper pack of edged paper for $3.00. They could be put to use to mist some background designs.
These cardstock with an edge mini packs were $1.50 each. It looks like there are 25 in a pack. Another item that could be good for misting on backgrounds.
Just the edges $1.00 each.
Ribbon and tulle were plentiful. And I know I don't need any, but whatever. I was sensible and picked very usable and versatile colors. Tulle $1.50/spool for 25 yards; Ric Rac, Gingham and Sheer ribbon $1.50/spool for 15 yards/
1 - In Stitch'z template $2.00 , 3- 100 yard spools, $1.50 and 2 - In Stitche'z floss kits $2.00
My Creative Escape shopping bag was $2, the Creative Escape book was $2 ($15 at Scrapbook.com right now) and one of the Maggie Holmes class kits for $3.00. They had 2 other class kits for $5 each that I wish I would have picked. up. I found out they were selling the leftover kits at Scrapbooks Etc for $30+. Holy smokes!
I told myself I didn't need any brads, and I didn't buy and little ones. However I did find these in my bag when I got home, wonder how that happened, ;).  All brads were $1/pack.
Accordion keepers, sized 6x4, $.25/each. I may not have picked these up, but my friend got some on Friday to use as a way to give a card set as a gift. Love it, and there is an accordion fold book inside.
2 chipboard 6x6 mini books, $2/each; 8 - 6x6 sheets of heavy plain chipboard, $0.10/each; and some chipboard tags $1/pack which could be good for misting masks or gift tags.
Some miscellaneous supplies: paint dauber, $0.50; Tombow Metal Glue, $0.75; and Paint Pen, $1.
And a couple of freebies thrown in the bag at check out, Quilting Arts magazine and 50 free prints at Snapfish.

 

So what did I learn?
  • I definitely can't resist a bargain.
  • Getting up early on a Saturday morning for scrappy shopping is much easier than getting up early to exercise or go to work.
  • Getting up early goes much easier with a pumpkin latte from Starbucks
  • I don't miss spending time on the weekends photographing kits (from my Color Me Daisy days)
  • and...

...I actually can stay within budget when it comes to scrappy spending.

Before tax I spent $85.30. I had a Bazzill wholesale order form with the regular prices for almost everything and I Google'd the other items. I saved 75%  or $250 at the sale.  And the freebies take that savings to $260.

Not bad for getting up early on a Saturday. I think I will be headed back next year.

Making Me Happy

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Pretty happy with my shopping trip to Kohl's last night. I needed some things for our upcoming vacation and had a 20% off coupon. All but 2 things I bought were on clearance and the other 2 were on sale. So I got 7 pairs of shorts/capris, 6 shirts, a pair of shoes, a purse, sunglasses, a scarf and a watch for just over $150. I call that a score. Since I hate clothes shopping, that makes me happy. And it was done in just about an hour.

Love it!

I was home on Monday sick with an yucky bug and Mike had taken the boys out so it was quiet. I was sitting in the chair feeling awful, but then I looked out the window and saw this dragonfly just resting on a leaf. Well what is a girl that is taking a photography class to do? Grab the camera of course....

He was pretty cooperative, even with me trying to change my settings and figure out how to do that best with the zoom lens. He even scratched his nose at one point, too bad I didn't get that.  I also played with some flower photography here...

I'm pretty happy with these straight from the camera shots. I am excited to go to full manual this week in my class. I'll share some photos to date tomorrow from the class, it is amazing what you can do with a camera when you begin to learn how to use it.
Don't you love days where it all just clicks creatively? I have had a couple recently. I really wanted to update a the banner that was hanging on our patio door for awhile. We decorated for fall over the weekend and I was inspired to finally get to it, but at first I was stumped with exactly what to do, then it started flowing.
Then again tonight, I planned to just watch Glee (which was recorded on the DVR in my scrap room). I didn't plan to do anything crafty. Then I picked up the Jenni Bowlin Limited Edition Vitange Halloween Kit that I am pretty sure I ordered the last one of....

and before I knew it I was singing along with Glee to Empire State of Mind (New York) and creating something I love.

I can only share peeks right now, because these are may be future DT projects. But I love when creativity hits and you can just jump on it. Don't you?

Something else that is making me happy this coming weekend, Bazzill.  If you live in the Phoenix area this Friday and Saturday is the Bazzill warehouse sale. I haven't gone in a few years, but I plan to head over and see what I can pick up. I'm sure I'll at least get a pizza box of cardstock (not like I need it). Click on the link for the info.

Happy hump day!

Collage Tutorial at ScrapTiffany and a Freebie

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Today I am hosting the Tuesday Tutorial over at ScrapTiffany. Join me and learn how to make a collage like this one that I now have framed and displayed in my entry way with all my fall decorations, and read below for a freebie download of 2 photo collages you can use today.

In addition to making a picture collage that you can use in lots of ways, I am also talking a bit about using actions, and adding some digital elements to enhance your photos.
And just for fun I am also sharing some digital templates to make the both sides of the 8x8 collages that I used in this layout:

 

Each side gives you 11 photos. That's a lot of photos to pack on a page. The templates are PSD files and can be used in Photoshop Elements or Photoshop.
Photo sizes for each side in inches (width x height):
1 - 4x3
6 - 2x2
2 - 2x3
2 - 4x2
Here are the links for the download:
Each layer is named by the picture size. To use the templates:
  1. Select your photos
  2. Crop to the size noted in the layer title in the layers palette
  3. Drag the photo to the template
  4. Move over the photo layer for placement
  5. Click both the photo layer box and your added picture to have both selected
  6. Right click and merge the two layers. This will allow you to move any photo's around if you want.
  7. When all pictures have been added, select all layers and right click to flatten the image
  8. Save as a JPEG for printing
  9. Have fun.

If you use the template I would love to see what you did. Leave a comment with your link and I will check it out and share it here.

Thanks for stopping by today.

A Peak at Fall Decorating, Weekend Stuff and ScrapTiffany Monday

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It always makes me smile when we open up Nicholas's back pack and find his weekly report with all this happiness and lots of good praise. He loves school and I love to see him doing well. And I guess Mike is picking up on photos I like to have, because he took this one Friday afternoon on his phone and sent it to me.
Mike and I both stayed up late Friday night playing. So we weren't really thrilled when our dog Mandi had an accident and threw up in the bed at 5 a.m. She's been sick and we think the medicine is bothering her tummy. Our poor sweet girl.
The upside is we got out early to do some planting.  The heat this summer has been awful, and our plants suffered. It was still in the 110 range over the weekend. After spending a fortune over the years to keep all kinds of flowering plants in our courtyard, we gave up. We planted Lantana in the pots and at the base of the fountain. I swear those things are like weeds and will grow in any kind of situation, at least they have color. So here's hoping to saving a few bucks at the nursery.
Our little herb garden bit the dust by July too. I planted a new one with some basil, rosemary and cilantro. I'll see how it goes. We also decorated for fall. I love my little scarecrows.
I'll share a few more fall decoration pictures later this week, but here is a glimpse of one arrangement I have around the house.
This week's assignment at ScrapTiffany was to use 4 photos on a page. I tend to use 1 to 2 photos on a page, but I have been trying to use more recently. So this was a good assignment
I cropped down 4 standard 4x6 prints to 4x3.  I put new Recollection's border punch to work. I picked it up at Michael's for $5.50 after the 50% off sale and Friday's 5 hour coupon for 15% off entire purchase. This was my only scrappy purchase that day, since my shopping mission was to find fall decorations.
I also used Studio Calico's Mr. Huey's Mist on the chipboard. I love that navy, and that white I'm pretty smitten with that one too. All 10 colors are a must have whether you like to mist or not (because you will want to after you get your hands on these)!
Check out the rest of the design team's work over at ScrapTiffany today and Friday. Lot's of good stuff.
Check back tomorrow for ScrapTiffany's Tuesday Tutorial. I have a freebie to go along with it.

Giveaway Winner and ScrapTiffany Reveal

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Thank you so much to everyone that signed up and voted for my Dad's company in the GE contest.  I appreciate you taking the time to check it out. From the comments Random.org picked the following winner of a $25 Studio Calico gift card:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
13


Which makes the winner....



Blogger erin m said...
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Michelle! I wish your Dad & his partner the best of luck in this contest. Such a great opportunity to help ALL of us out. I will pass the contest website on to my husband too. He enjoys learning about alternative energy & conservation.

September 13, 2010 7:58 AM

  So it looks like Erin may be shopping with me on reveal day (midnight, the 28th) over at Studio Calico. October kit sneak peeks went up tonight and they look delicious.

Erin, please send me an e-mail at: (michelle(dot)colormedaisy(at)gmail(dot)com, with your address info and I will have your Studio Calico gift card sent to you.

Again, thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. If you haven't voted and want information and links it can be found here.

Our ScrapTiffany challenge for the week was to scraplift someone. Recently I saw this layout on Rebecca Keppel's blog (my fellow ScrapTiffany teammate), I wanted to do a similar theme for my layout and used this layout from Nicole Harper as my design inspiration.

I also really wanted to use the stamp on the left that I recently found in my stash. One of my many nicknames for Jackson is Peanut Butter Pie. It was his first nickname really.  I called Nicholas Pumpkin Pie when he was born it came from one of my two favorite pies. So Jackson had to be nicknamed after my other favorite pie.
If you take the ScrapTiffany challenge to scraplift someone this week, send it to Tiffany to share with us.

Weekend Update

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Another one bites the dust.

The weekend was filled with down time. We needed it. We had a bit of a rough week last week. We had an appointment for Jackson that was frustrating and we were dealing with the emotions of that. So we needed some down time and took it easy.

We watched silly movies, that did not get good reviews, but provided some laughter...

Mike, Nicholas and I read magazines on the patio....

Finally getting to enjoy a cooler early part of the day....

We played outside...

We ordered pizza, went out for Mexican food and got KFC grilled chicken take out.

We took naps. We (me) had a pedicure/manicure.

Sometimes you just need these things.

I only scrapped for an hour. It was all I wanted to do. I felt like reading, enjoying my family, watching movies, playing with my new camera lens, sleeping, and organizing my photos. I have 2 packages arriving this week with scrappy goodies, so I know I will want to immerse myself in all that pretty paper again next week.

I did have fun with that one hour. I did my ScrapTiffany challenge for the week. However, Tiffany is having a bit of trouble with her internet, so I will have to wait to post my layout until she can get the DT reveal up. Here is a peak for now:

Since I can't share the ScrapTiffany layout yet, here is one I did last week to document Nicholas's thing for blowing me kisses, which of course I love...

Using the Studio Calico Summer Camp kit, EK Success Label, Jumbo Star Border and Martha Stewart Starburst punches.

Hope you have a great week!

Five Bits of Happiness on Friday

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What five things are making you happy on this fine Friday?  My top 5 are: 1 - This boy's laugh...

2- This boy's silly faces....
3 - My new camera lens that came yesterday and getting to play with it this weekend...
4 - And this cutie bag that came last night to put it in from Jo Totes

5 - Fall is sort of here (okay it is still around 100 degrees in Arizona), but the return of cool mornings and evenings, gives me hope.  And the fact that I can now find all these goodies in the store.  Now that is just bliss...

And a bonus bit of happiness, having a phone in my camera so I can take these pictures when running errands and a hobby that gives me a way to remember something I look forward to every year.

If you haven't entered my giveaway for a Studio Calico $25 gift card yet, see yesterday's post.

That's a Great Story

Although he can't read on his own yet, Nicholas loves books. He brings us books to read to him, his favorites lately are Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham and of course his beloved "Pigeon" books by Mo Williams. We read 4 of them every night, in the same order, before bed.
One night I got bored with the pigeon driving the bus, finding a hot dog, wanting a puppy and staying up late. I think Nicholas did too. So I changed it to driving a motorcycle, finding a sandwich, wanting a kitty and not letting Nicholas stay up late. It stuck and I am no longer allowed to read about buses, hot dogs, puppy's or the pigeon not being tired.
In the afternoon after Jackson has gone down for a nap, Nicholas heads to his room and finds his Pigeon books. He knows Mike can hear him through the baby monitor. He calls out each book and waits for Mike (or me when I am home) to acknowledge he is ready to start. He will then proceed to "read"/recite each book. With all of the changed words, all the intonations of the story, the works. It's cute.
I got these pictures of him one morning while the boys were destroying Jackson's room. Nicholas picked up a book and started reading to Jackson about monster's. Making it up as he went along, since he wasn't as familiar with this one.
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 The layout was done as part of a lift of fave layout challenge over at Studio Calico. My layout was based on this one by Kelly Noel.  I finished the layout and didn't enter the challenge. But I am happy to have this little part of him scraped. And the title, that is what Nicholas says when he finishes a book. "That's a great story".
Have a great Wednesday!

How about some cards?

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What a fast weekend. It seems like whenever I have an extra day I cram so much in to make the most of it. We had a couple of barbeque's in the backyard. I baked. I worked on my first assignment for the photography class I am taking with Maggie Holmes. I actually opened my camera manual and started reading. I made lots of cards and a few layouts. I did not open my new Stampmaker. Something to look forward too, I guess.

Our ScrapTiffany assignment this week was Cardstock Only.  A while back I saw a layout using punches layered  for the background. I had wanted to do one like that, but when I sat down to work on it, the layout wasn't working out for me and I felt like making a card:

I inked the edges to make each one stand out. I want to try it on a layout too sometime soon.  There are so many fun things we can do with cardstock. Check out what the other girls did over at ScrapTiffany , and if you make a project based on the challenge share it by e-mailing it to Tiffany over at ScrapTiffany.
I have 3 nieces that have September birthdays. So I made a bunch of cards up yesterday for them and a couple more.
Using up some Cosmo Cricket Material Girl this one is for my niece turning 3...
Love the girls on the chipboard, but hadn't had a place to use them....
And using up some of the girlie stuff in Studio Calico's Summer Camp kit and add-on's I made this card...
and one for my card stash from leftovers scraps....
Another from the same kit for a friend that has been sick.  The butterfly's are the punch outs from the new EK Success jumbo butterfly border punch. I didn't like the way the border looked so I used the negative instead and used my EK bracket border on both sides of the strip to make the border.
Yippee for short weeks! Have a great Tuesday!