Glimpse

On the grocery list| Avocado. The last one I bought was rotten. Boo 
On the TV| Re-watching Downton Abbey. It's so good!
On iTunes| "Some Nights" by Fun. I have to move when I hear this song. 
On the scrap table| Layouts for the Elle's Studio Design Team. 
On the movie list| Snow White
On the bedside table| Oprah magazine. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann


We're in for 90 degree weather this weekend. Bring it, I say!


Have a lovely weekend!

Say Cheese (Again)

This was one of the six layouts I scrapped in record time for the challenges at Elle's Studio, as part of their new website launch. I'm not sure what happened, but everything was aligned, and I went with it.

The challenge was to layer. I don't think layering is one of my strongest scrapping skills, but it is something I really love to do. People like Marcy Penner and Allison Waken make layering look so effortless. I try to channel them when I'm tackling the layer.

I realized I don't have any Es left in any of my Thickers! Now, that's a predicament. I guess I'll be choosing titles based on the vowel needed. This time though, I really wanted to use "Say Cheese," so I used stamps. Oh, right, stamps. I always forget about those. I like how it turned out, so maybe I'll stick with this option in the future.

I was with my entire family only a few months ago, but I'm missing them terribly already. We won't be all together again until August and that seems like an eternity. And I don't want to wish for it to come faster because the summer will be almost over then and I don't want the summer to be over either. Yes, this is how my brain works. But this picture tides me over. I smile when I look at it. I never know what face I'll get from these four. It's always a surprise. For the most part, they give me smiles and I'm thankful for that.

I'm looking forward to taking a walk with a friend today. The weather has been just beautiful. What are you looking forward to today?

Thanks for stopping by!

Ten on Tuesday

1| I've been stalking this bedspread for a month or so, waiting for a queen size to be restocked. Finally, one appeared the other day and I snatched it up. I love it!

2| I can't believe we're into June already. June always sneaks up on me. I have a lot of fun things planned, including a Twins game and a Lynx game. I'm not even a huge sports fan. Go figure.

3| I've been writing letters and emails and texts and sending "just because" cards. I've been trying to be more intentional in staying in touch with family and friends. It's been fun having all of these conversations going on with different people and using different media.

4| Elle's Studio has a new website, which includes a member gallery. They had a bunch of challenges to celebrate the launch. I participated and made six layouts in one night, which I'm pretty sure is a record. You can check out my gallery here and I've added a link on the sidebar too. I also won a $20 gift card, which I eagerly and quickly spent. Thanks Elle's Studio!

5| I've been eating Farmer's Market lettuce, snap peas, and radishes by the handful. It's only Tuesday and it's almost all gone.

6| I crossed a bunch of stuff off my to-do list yesterday. "Uck stuff" that has been on there for a long time, like applying for dental insurance and figuring out my retirement, etc. It feels so good to have it done though. Lesson learned to not let that stuff fester. Just get yer' done.

7| My dining room table is the last hold out of furniture from my college days. I think it's about time to replace it, no?....it's only been over 10 years. Eee gads. I saw one at Target that I liked, but can't find it online to link up.

8| My niece has started watching The West Wing with her parents. I am a huge fan of The West Wing, so was thrilled when my sister asked for the first season. This past weekend, I was able to watch an episode with her. Totally fun.

9| I want to see Snow White and the Huntsman. Maybe this weekend. I hate to go into a movie when it's so beautiful outside. And I don't want to wish for rain. Dilemmas. Dilemmas. Have you seen it?

10| I'm on the hunt for a clutch. I haul around a giant bag for work, so I'd love to have a much smaller purse for all other outings. I'm eyeing this one. Cheap. Simple. Perfect.

Easter Trivia

I'm still catching up in sharing layouts I created for challenges during National Scrapbook Day. I participated in a few on Two Peas in a Bucket. They had a morph project hop with their design team. One member creates the first layout and then the next member creates a layout based on the first member and so on. It was really fun to see how all the members interpreted each design in their own way. You can check it out here.

The challenge was to continue the morph, so I used Amy Tan's page as inspiration.

I loved all of the layering and bits that she had on her page, so I chose to mirror that on my page. I cut up a bunch of papers from her Sketchbook collection into different shapes and sizes and layered them on top of each other. Her collection makes it so easy to scrap! Love it.

At Easter this year, we decided to have a trivia contest for the three youngest kids. We made up a series of questions for each person, and for each question there was a prize. My oldest niece helped to pick out the prizes and they were a big hit. My middle niece told me after that she wished there had been more questions. Note to self for next year. I'm so glad they enjoyed it. Definitely a highlight of the weekend.

I'm so glad it's Friday tomorrow. Here I come long weekend! What are your plans?

Ten on Tuesday

1| I took the day off on Friday. I had to remind myself how to relax. To forget all the stuff and stress. I went out to lunch by myself. I only remember doing that once before. I wandered the aisles of Target. I bought a few things I didn't need. I exercised. I read. I napped. It was nice. I need to do that more often.

2| I am smitten with Downton Abbey. I whipped through season one and two and I can't believe I have to wait until January 2013 to see season three. Is anyone else watching?

3| I've been enjoying the Farmer's Market. I'm eating a lot of green onion and radishes.

4| I'm participating in Ali Edwards' 31 Things class at Big Picture Classes. I'm thoroughly enjoying all the writing. I'm unearthing a lot of fun and interesting stories.

5| I'm reading the third book in Steig Larsson's series. I read the first two a long time ago, but somehow didn't read the third. It doesn't disappoint. I didn't see the movie. I didn't want to see all that violence.

6| I've been emailing with my niece. She's using her Mom's account. I always love seeing an email from her in the morning. She loves sharing all the emoticons she has. I've been sharing riddles.

7| I bought a few rolls of washi tape from Freckled Fawn. Good stuff. You'll be seeing a lot of it on future projects.

8| My allergies have been awful. The cottonwood is everywhere. I struggle the most with my eyes. I've read that I should keep my windows closed, but I need the fresh air.

9| The weather has been fantastic the last few days. We had a lot of rain before that, which we desperately needed. Now, I need to get into the practice of spending more time outside. I'm not yet taking full advantage. Even if it's just taking a quick walk at lunch or after dinner.

10| I read this quote on Pinterest and it made me smile. "Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, oh no, she's up."

My Favorites

Wow, I've been away for much longer than I thought possible. This is the longest since I started blogging a little over two years ago. I'm struggling with whether to keep coming back to this space or not. I'm definitely not as eager as I was when I first started. I want this space to be fun and inspirational and a place to document my life. I've lost some of that focus. I really hope I find it again! But I'm here today, and I'll take that for now.

During National Scrapbook Day (Weekend), Studio Calico had a bunch of different challenges. One was to use circles or triangles or stars, something graphic. I chose to use circles.

I've used this design in the past and it is one of my favorites. It's super simple, but effective too. I just grab my scalloped circle punch and a few sheets of pretty paper. I'm using Amy Tan's Sketchbook collection on everything lately. The colors and designs are really inspiring me right now. I added embellishments to several of the circles; a brad, a label sticker, banners, a chipboard butterfly, and a "S" Thicker. I love how bright and fun this page is.

When I got to the list, I just sat down and wrote down the first 10 things that came to mind. I didn't over think it. If I did it again now, it would probably be a different list. This is just a snapshot. I then used my typewriter to put it on white cardstock. I made them pennants by just cutting the ends.

My Favorites--May 2012
Dark chocolate
West Wing episodes
Create everyday
Stripes
Brussels sprouts
Warm sunshine
Hot green tea

A couple close-ups

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm thankful for all my readers!

Creative Crop

This past Saturday was National Scrapbooking Day and I celebrated by scrapping a bunch. I played along with challenges at Big Picture Classes' Creative Crop, Two Peas in a Bucket and Studio Calico.

Today, I'll be sharing the layouts from the Creative Crop.

First up, Ali Edwards had a challenge to tell a then and now story. I love these type of stories. They are fun to make and even more fun to look at later on. Tammy at Your Memory Connection made a layout a few weeks back that compared three different decades of her life. I love that idea and put it on my to-do list and when I saw this challenge, I knew it would be perfect.

I'm turning 35 this year, so I took a photo from years 14, 24 and 34. Finding a photo for 14 and 24 was not easy. It wasn't until 2006 when I got my first digital camera that photos of me are more prevalent. My journaling is tucked behind the photo and just talks about what was happening during each of these years, and what I hope will happen in year 35.

The next layout combines two different challenges; use iPhone photos and use a cast-off object.

I just purchased an iPhone, so I was totally in for this challenge. The first two layers underneath the photos are packaging from product from Studio Calico and American Crafts.

I'm a big fan of taking photos of my food, and the iPhone makes this so much easier. When in a restaurant, it's not as obvious as a larger camera. I kept this page pretty simple, and looking at it now, I'm thinking it needs more. But I'm about moving forward, so in the album it goes.

The Creative Crop challenges are now closed, but the Two Peas and Studio Calico ones are open for a week, so stop by those sites if you're looking for a creative boost.

I'll be back later this week with my layouts from the other challenges. You'll be seeing a lot of American Crafts/Amy Tangerine Sketchbook. I'm a bit obsessed with that collection!

I hope your week is off to a good start. Thanks for stopping by!