A Scrapper's Tale

My Journey

I love the writing on The Mad Ones blog. Today, its creator ran a timeline of her life and invited readers to create one of their own. So, here's mine:

30 Years Ago
I was sitting in Journalism Class at Eastern Kentucky University when I spotted this great-looking guy in the back of the room. When I discovered that he was also smart and funny, I moved to the back of the room, too. We've been together ever since, and married for 27 years.

I took a weight-lifting class, and started running for the first time in my life. I was stronger and healthier than I had ever been.

25 Years Ago
I was an up-and-coming young writer for an electric utility. I was making good money and spent most of it on clothes, and movies, and eating out. I wore the power suits of the 80s. If you looked up the word Yuppie in the dictionary, my picture would appear next to it.

20 Years Ago
I'm the mother of a toddler, and I've bought a duplex next to my parents. My commute is 45 minutes each way, but it's worth it to have a good job and still be close to family. I feel very fulfilled.

15 Years Ago
This is the dream life. I have two beautiful children, a great husband, a 4-bedroom house next to the country club, and a great job.

I'm working hard to stay fit, and still wear a size six.

10 Years Ago
I've taken a job only a few miles from my home, working as a VP of Communications for an electric utility. I'm glad to be closer to home because I'm busy with PTA meetings, community activities, and running my children to and from from soccer, ballet, and t-ball practice.

My son is ill all the time, but the doctors don't know what's wrong with him. He's gone from 50 pounds to 40 pounds in the past year. I worry all the time.

Five Years Ago
We've found a doctor who has diagnosed my son's eosinophilic disorder, and he's on the road to recovery. He's being homeschooled, but I still have to work in order to have insurance. I'm starting to have a lot of pain in my joints, and my doctors fear that I may have had a mini-stroke. I've had to give up my daily walks because they leave me exhausted.

One Year Ago
I'm a grandmother now. What an amazing experience that has been. There's all the love you had for your own children, but none of the day-to-day worries.

In the past few years, I've been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) and fibromyalgia. I'm at home on disability. I'm still struggling to find the balance between being productive and caring for my health.

To keep my mind and hands busy, I've taken up art and scrapbooking again. It's filling a void in my life that I didn't know I had. This is one of the good things that have come as a result of my illness.

I've become very active in the online communities of Digital Art Quirks and Scrapbookgraphics. Most of my friends are now online.

Yesterday
The doctor says I have a nasty sinus infection. I've slept most of the day.

I finished the first three books of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, and I watched an old mystery movie on Netflix.

Today
I don't want my fibro to flare up, so I'm taking it easy until I'm over this stupid sinus infection. I'm working on a layout in the style of collage artist Elaine Brady Smith. I'm not very happy with it, so I may toss it and start over.

Tomorrow
If I'm feeling better, I really need to clean my house. If not, I'll putter on the computer and read. I've been meaning to start Weight Watchers again, so I may pull out my old cookbooks and try to get started.

Five Years From Now
I hope to be healther. My kids will be on their own, and I'm looking forward to doing more travelling with my husband. As for what I plan to accomplish, I really don't know. For the first time in my life, I'm living day to day. For someone who has always been so goal oriented, that is a remarkable thing.

Adding ShaZAM to Photos

Today is one day you don't want to miss Jessica Sprague's Photoshop Friday tips and techniques. She's sharing how to take a so-so photo and make it sizzle in just a few easy steps. And if you try out the technique and post your results on the web, you're automatically entered into a contest to win a free camera strap from Cotton Candy.

Here's my before picture (the model is my sweet little niece):

And here's my after image:

 
Normally, I would have made adjustments for levels, contrast, and curves, but I wanted to see just how effective Jessica's technique would be. Pretty cool, huh?

Over at Ztampf!, Lie Fhung just released a whole new collection of butterflies made of lace and sequins. The detail work on these is amazing. I'm hoping to get to scrap with them this weekend.

On the home front, I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend with family. We're having a cookout to celebrate my father's 73rd birthday, and I have some paper projects I want to work on. Have a great weekend!

Freebie Alert: Collab Kit and a Magazine

Scrap N' Art E-zine's July/August issue features tons of stuff from Scrapbookgraphics, including a fabulous collab called Popsicle Pop which you will only be able to get by subscribing to the e-zine.  So, make sure you subscribe. The magazine itself is free, and contains both digital and traditional scrapping layouts, tips and techniques.

I just love all the bright summer colors. Here's a layout of my grandson.

Playing with Neutrals

For this week's Studio Starts challenge at Scrapbookgraphics, we're playing with neutrals. American Heritage defines a "neutral" color as one that as "not defining or striking." When I think of neutrals, I think of the washed out browns, grays and tans. And, while those colors may not make the most striking kits, they sometimes do make the most striking layouts. There's something about a neutral background that just makes a photo pop off the page.

I've done a couple of neutral layouts this week, both featuring my grandson (surprise, surprise). :-)

Credits: Sausan's Heavenly Creatures papers ; Sausan's Altered Artistry Old Papers and Cards; Sausan's Altered Artistry Pressed Flowers ; Sausan's Pixies 5x7 Folded Overlays; Michelle Godin's Funky Junky swirl; ON Designs Kit No. 4 wrap ; Taran Conyer's Lipstick Chic tag and Vera Lim's A Little Magic No. 3. Fonts are Century Gothic and Susie's Hand.

Everything here is by Lie Fhung of Ztampf! Papers and lace border from Palais Royal; frame cluster from Year in Revue; glittery overlay from Lumoz Whimsy; and ribbon tie from Compassionette. Fonts are Acoustic Bass and DJB CTs Rock. Based on a Becky Fleck pagemap.

By the way, if you haven't visited Becky Fleck's Page Maps, you're missing a real treat. Each month, she offers free sketches for your scrapbooking use.

Celebrating NSD at SBG

In my neck of the woods, Saturday is all about the Kentucky Derby. But in digi-land, Saturday is all about National Scrapbooking Day. In between the races, I'll be hanging out at Scrapbookgraphics where we'll be celebrating NSD in a big way.

There will be chats throughout the day, fun prizes, games, and challenges. Here's the schedule.

Rumor has it that copies of the new Studio Girls collaboration, Impressions of Motherhood, will be given away throughout the day to lucky participants. Aren't the colors lucious?

 

The kit will show up in the shop on May 1. Here's a layout of my grandson I did using the new kit.

And here's a coordinating mini kit that I created as an NSD giveaway. Kim will be distributing it at her 5 p.m. chat, so be sure to drop in. Looking forward to seeing you there.

 

I Admit It--Going Both Ways

As an avid digi-scrapper, sometimes I miss the smell of glue, the feel of the paper, the thrill of finding the perfect embellishment in the bargain bin at Big Lots. :-) That's why I still have a craft room filled to the brim with scrapbooks, paper, and ribbons galore.

Thank goodness for Scrapbook Dimensions, the magazine for hybrid scrappers. Now I can finally combine two of my favorite pastimes, and show my projects in a gallery designed specifically for hybrid.

This month, I've joined a group that's creating a circle journal made up of digital layouts, embellished with "real-life" elements. We're sharing the digital layouts with everyone who signed up for the project, and showing our embellished pages in the gallery. The theme is "One Thing I Love About Spring."

For my layout, I used a quote by Nadine Stair. The papers and butterfly are from Sausan's Verde kit. Photo from stock.xchng. Font is SS Simple Slab. Crocheted flower from Imaginesce. Ribbon and button from my stash.

Welcoming Some New and Old Faces at SBG

Guess who opened up shop today at Scrapbookgraphics? None other than the very talented and oh-so-nice Dianne Rigdon! Check out her new Bursting Forth collection. Isn't it gorgeous?

I've been a big fan of Dianne's forever. Back when she was at ScrapArtist, I bought nearly everything she put out; she's just that good. She's featured in this month's issue of Scrapbook Dimensions magazine. At $6.99, this issue's a steal, jam-packed with great articles and tons of freebies. 

Also new to the store is Manuela Zimmerman, or Manu, as she's more commonly known. I just downloaded her beautiful Nature Walk kit; I plan to use it to scrap pictures of my grandson exploring the trails in the Smoky Mountains. (BTW: This is one of those cases where the preview doesn't really do the kit justice. These papers are just gorgeous, with subtle coloring variations and textures.)

And, finally, we're excited to welcome back two of our veteran designers, Meredith Fenwick and Doris Castle. Does SBG rock or what?

Impressions of Peace

I'll be the first to admit it; I've been a terrible blogger. Knocked down by a virus that went into bronchitis, I spent most of January ill, and most of February trying to catch up. But it's a new month, and things are looking brighter.

And because it's a new month, that means the Studio Girls at Scrapbookgraphics have a new collaboration kit out. Aren't the colors in Impressions of Peace just gorgeous? It's on sale this month for only $6.99.

I had so much fun using it in this layout of my grandson.

The first of the month also brings a new Spirit Club challenge where you can earn points towards Impression of Peace Add-Ons, designed by the Studio Crew. Each comment you make on a layout or in the forum at Scrapbookgraphics earns you one point; and for every challenge layout you complete, you'll earn 20 points.

I have so much fun when I get to pretend to be a designer. :-) With 250 points, you get my contribution.

New at Scrapbookgraphics

Have you seen the work of the newest Studio Girl at Scrapbookgraphics, Birgit Kerr?

She's added more than 60 items to the store, and frankly, I think they're all gorgeous, but I've narrowed it down to two that I just HAVE to have, Altered Touches and Lingering Joys.

The Studio Crew was given a sneak preview of two of Birgit's Christmas kits. Here's what I did with them.

      

Paper, cardboard stars, felt heart, frame and glitter are from Birgit Kerr's Weihnact kit; bead cluster and ribbon from her Winter Wonder kit. The fonts are Porcelain and Copperplate Gothic. Thanks to Atomic Cupcake for the glitter action.

All I Want for Christmas

I paper scrapped before I digital scrapped, and I still have a whole room devoted to papers, glues, and ribbons. When I switched to digi-scrapping, I really and truly believed that it would save me money. But the truth is that in addition to kits, there are so many other cool things to buy that it's really easy to let your scrapping budget get out of control. So I've been making a list of things I would buy if money were no object. Santa, I hope you're reading. (I've been very good this year.)

1) Go Media's Affliction Font. This vintagey, grungy font is calling my name. And, at only $9.99, I really should break down and get it.

2. Art Rage 2.5. This easy-to-use painting program is getting rave reviews on all the scrapping boards. It can be used to produce realistic paint strokes, glitter, stencils and more. The metallic paint options look really cool. At $25, it seems like a steal.

3. The new Picture Yourself Creating Digital Scrapbooks book by Sally Beacham and Lori Davis. The accompanying DVD contains 13 kits from 7 designers, fonts from Larabie, Kingthings, Melissa Baxter, Miss Tiina, Robin Rowlands, Hoodsy and from the authors, Sally Beacham and Lori Davis: assorted plugins and utility demos, Paint Shop Pro scripts, other miscellaneous scrapping stuff and some tutorials. You can pre-order it now from Amazon for only $19.79.

   

4. Shoebox Reprints Scanning Package.  Janet Phillips at Scrapbookgraphics recommended this service on her blog, and I've been wanting to try it ever since I read about it. For $99.95, you can fill a box that they provide with your old photos, and they'll scan them onto a disk. Shoebox Reprints say you can fit about 1,600 photos into one of the boxes. And, the price includes shipping.  Wouldn't it be great to have all you old photos backed up?

5. Preset Viewer by TumaSoft. Preset Viewer is the first product that will allow you to view, organize, key word, sort and export NOT only brush files (abr), but also patterns (pat) and custom shapes (csh). Plus, Install with just a click OR export your favorites as either brush (abr) files or PNG files! Wow, it would be great to finally get my brushes and patterns in some sort of order. This product is on sale at Scrapbookgraphics for $39.95 through Dec. 31.

6. I've heard nothing but good things about Al Ward's Photoshop for Right-Brainers: The Art of Photo Manipulation. Available at Amazon for $26.39, this 334-page how-to book covers everything from blending to art techniques to packaging.

7. Now, if Santa's feeling really generous, I think the new Apple all-in-one iMac is cooler than any computer has a right to be. But with a starting price tag of $1,199, I think I'll have to be satisfied with my Compaq laptop. In the meantime, I just like looking at it. The geek in me thinks it's gorgeous.