Here are the layouts I completed during the 2-day crop. (Click on each to enlarge.) Keep in mind that I spent a lot of time chatting and walking around the store and just having a fun time with my old and new friends. I used lots of doodling on these, a lot of marker and pen work. I really like how they turned out. It's weird how haphazard they are when I'm doing them and I mess up and fix them and mess up again and fix them again. In the end though, somehow they turn out alright.

Love my family!

I never get to see my family. I'm so happy I'm getting to spend time here. Let's see, my mom, sister, three nephews, brother-in-law, my dad, my son are all here! It's raining but we've been able to get some good stuff in anyway. The photo is of my oldest nephew, Chad, and my son. They jumped in the hot tub in their clothes (the goofballs). Their hair is exactly the same, too. It's cute. More updates later. Just wanted to check in and say hello! Oh, and the 2-day crop was FANTASTIC! I met lots of great ladies and spent time with my friends Jenney and Angela. So glad they were there! And I did a few layouts that I really like. Have a good week everyone!

Woohoo!

I'm so excited. Two whole days of scrapping! I can't wait to see my friends and do some serious scrapbooking. There are about 15 of us and we're getting goodie bags and there will be prizes. Looking forward to meeting everyone! Oh and I of course have to mention the chocolate fountain that will be there! I've seen it in action. Three tiers of melted chocolate cascading down calling out for you to dip a piece of cake, or a strawberry, or other little morsel of yummy goodness. LOL Seriously though, I am looking forward to the other stuff, too. :-)

I called this one Brave Reflection.

It's about how hard it is to know that how my son turns out is a direct reflection of me and if I'm doing a good job or screwing up! Such pressure! Of course it's worth every second of every minute of every day. I know all I can do is my best, which isn't always perfect for sure. I love this layout. It makes me happy. And sad. And scared. My gosh I love this boy.

What's my style? Hmmmm....

That's a tough one. I think many people have a tough time putting a name to their style. I think there USED to be very distinct styles but now, less and less of that. I've had three people describe my style as "clean freestyle." I love the look of freestyle scrapbooking. It's so "in the moment" and emotional and sometimes whimsical or haphazard if that makes sense. I've decided to start a new artlog to work on the freestyle style. Should be fun! So I think "clean freestyle" is probably a fair description. I do like to "mess it up" a bit with my doodling and pens and markers but I also like to keep the attention on the photos, or in the case of manufacturer projects - on the products. Anyone else think I have a certain style? (It's hard to see your own style isn't it?) On another note... I'm pretty sure the calls/emails must have already gone out for the My Mind's Eye DT. Congrats to everyone who got in! I'm jealous you'll have all that fun stuff to work with for FREE!!! hehehehe Way to go ladies! Off to clean the house and mow the lawn and pull weeds. Crap. I hate pulling weeds. Have a great Saturday!!!

Cool Card Class

Looking forward to teaching my Quick Cards class next month.

I've pulled together a selection of papers and ribbons and other items for a cute kit we'll use to create 8 cards during the class. I kept the kit fee to under $5.00, too! That was quite an accomplishment I think given the variety of cards I was going for.

So I chose five different Scenic Route papers that my LSS had in stock. Three sheets of Bazzill, under 3 feet of ribbon, some word "medallions" that I printed onto cardstock, too. The class will be using inking, stamping, diecutting, and coloring with pencils. Doodling will be optional. :-)

Click on the small images for a closer look. These are the eight cards we'll be creating. Whatcha think?

Two more days...

until they announce the new My Mind's Eye design team. I've taken a gander at some of the other entries and well, let's just say I am quite impressed with the other talented ladies who entered. I won't be expecting an email or phone call on Friday. But my gosh, I sure do love the layouts I did for the contest. My altered item was okay but I'm now second guessing myself. It was too... ummmm... normal. The layouts though, I just really enjoyed creating and I think they turned out pretty nice. And heaven knows I have been trying to scrap that picture in the layout here for YEARS! Sometimes I'm inspired by photos. And crazily, sometimes by the product. In this case, the MME paper had this blue in it that just reminded me of this photo. It fit. And the photo being shot the way it was, with Cory standing there with almost nothing around him... it just came together. So I'm glad I entered and I'm still going to cross my fingers (ALL of them) that I hear good news this week. I'd love to hear from more of you who also entered. I'm starting a support group. (kidding, of course) And a quick thanks to the talented ladies who emailed me about my layout I had posted. Good luck to y'all, as well!

Woohoo Doodlers!

Another awesome doodling class! These scrapbookers really underestimate themselves. I'm amazed at how great everyone does in these classes. Most everyone walks in saying they can't doodle, their handwriting stinks, oh how they'd never really be able to doodle on a layout. But as I glance at the practice work during class, the doodling and handwriting and creativity is wonderful! Once again, a stellar group of ladies in my class. So glad I got to meet y'all and thanks so much for all the kind words and compliments after class. You inspire me! All that said, I have four more classes coming up - another doodling class, and advanced doodling class, an alpha class, and a card class. Check out Scrapbook Mania's web site for more details and to sign up. Also, I'll be in the store on Saturday, August 5th for a FREE technique session on distressing. Again, check the web site for info. Have a great day everyone!

Alpha Challenge

Over at E.B.B. Creations I've got my monthly challenge posted! Find a way to use all those pesky X's, Z's, and Q's or whatever other letters you don't use. Stickers, rub-ons, diecuts, it doesn't matter. Here's a card I created as an example. I used stickers and rub-ons on some Wild Asparagus cardstock to create a fun, wide border for the outside of the card. Come on over to the challenge and post your creation!

Doodle Class tomorrow!

Another doodling class is upon us and I'm looking forward to it! I just want to note the doodling pages I have listed in the right column towards the bottom. There are three PDFs that are part of the workbook I use in my doodling classes. Most of the time, I hear people saying they WANT to doodle, but are just so afraid to try it on their pages. The easiest way to ease those fears is to use a pencil first if you are unsure. Once you have it just right, trace it with a good pen and that's it! Make sure you test the eraser on a scrap sheet of paper first to make sure it's not one of those streaky erasers that leave marks. Try out the PDFs and let me know what you think!

Crop and Shop!

I had so much fun today. (or technically yesterday as I'm writing this at 1:00 a.m.) I met up with another scrapper I met on scrapbook.com about a year ago. We went shopping at scrapbook stores and used a big table in one of the stores to crop for several hours, breaking only for lunch and more shopping. I had such a good time. It's nice to get out and hang with the girls every once in a while, isn't it? I think I need to do this more often. :-) Thanks Jen for a very fun day if you're reading this!

Out on a limb

So I'm going out on a BIG limb here and trying for the My Mind's Eye design team. I thought "why not?" I love Wild Asparagus and Kaleidoscope papers and other goodies and heaven only knows I have TONS of it in my paper drawers! So I pulled out some of my favorite photos from the "needs scrapped" bin and pulled some of my favorite WA and Kaleidoscope papers and TaDa! (okay, so it wasn't that quick!) Here's one of the layouts. Of course it has some doodling and pen work that somehow show up on my pages quite often. But look at the colors of that paper! The two dotted papers are from different collections I think but those colors are beautiful together don't cha think? Anyway. I'm sure there are thousands of entries so chances are slim but I got some great photos scrapped and journaled either way. Wish me luck!

Scrapbook Mania, the local scrapbook store I teach classes at has a new web site! Check it out! We'll be having some fun classes coming up so if you're in the area, sign up! Lot's on my plate right now. I have a few things I need to finish up for Frances Meyer DT, waiting on my next monthly kit from E.B.B. Creations so I can complete a few things for their DT, working on entering another contest this week. Phew. Lots to do, so little time! So much fun!!!

Yay! Goodies!

I submitted two layouts for a contest on Scraps of Color for All Male Pages. I got an email today telling me I won the contest with this layout and that they also want to post the other entry in their idea gallery. I win some scrapbooking goodies. Can't wait to see what they are! Anyway, the winning layout entitled "Not-so-sweet Sixteen" is about my wonderfully creative, talented, musical, artistic, handsome nephew. He is also a bit on the defiant side with a bit of that rocker/skater-boy vibe going on. Good boy though. I used Basic Grey Urban Couture for this layout, as well as some Colorbok chalk, and markers. Basic Grey has also published this on their web gallery!

No patterned paper?

A challenge was issued by the dear Carol on EBB Creations to create a layout without using any patterned paper. The result was this layout entitled "Little Girl, Dirty Feet". It's not as easy as you would think. I of course defaulted to my natural tendencies to doodle all over the place. So it's a little over the top but it sure was fun! I used only Bazzill cardstock, a white Signo, Queen & Co. Fab Flowers, brads, my printer, Sakura Souffle markers, walnut ink spray, and inkpads.