My life as a Stay At Home Mom

Coming Soon

2011-11-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

I am about to become a new woman!! I finish my last class next week and then can add the initials B.A. behind my name. When I began this journey 9 years ago I never imagined it would take this long! I have had a baby, lost a mother, survived my husband's heart attack and watched my little girls turn into beautiful young women. I never started with the intent to gain a career and I love being able to stay at home with my children. Now faced with this transition in my life I feel a little lost, perhaps a bit like my 14 year old daughter, I am wondering what really matters in life, what God wants me to do, what I want to do and who I am.

I am totally excited about giving my house a lot of cleaning and decorating and renovating attention as well as getting back into crafting. The last page I posted was over a year ago and I really miss getting creative with my photos, supplies and stories. I can't wait to start sharing with you my creations.

Happy Holiday and have a Merry Christmas

So blessed!

2011-03-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't been able to complete any more layouts as I have been super busy with school, but I wanted to write a little something any ways. So many people around me, family and friends, have been and are going through some really tough trials it makes me realize my problems are not that bad at the moment. We all have times when we go through really hard things, like losing loved ones or serious, debilitating illnesses, but some how we all come through it on the other side. We are always stronger than we really know and I am so grateful to have a knowledge of the gospel and that families can be together forever.

Settling in

2010-09-30T20:57:00.001-06:00

A about a month into the school year and 3 weeks into the semester and I feel like I am finally beginning to find my feet. I discovered that if I stay at school and do my homework I actually get it done. If I come home the dishes, laundry, sweeping, bathrooms, errands all call my name and no homework gets done. Another thing that has really helped me is my awesome, helpful and supportive husband. I have got to be the luckiest woman alive!!

Emma is continuing with swimming lessons, Sabrina is still into soccer and Owen is loving his competitive gymnastics. We will be starting piano lessons on Monday. I am excited because the girls are going to prepare for their first piano exam this year and I am going to help two of my students prepare for an exam as well. My kids complain that I am making them do something they don't want to do, but I just say, "I know and when your a parent your going to do the same thing to your kids!!"

Luis is still looking for a job after being laid off in May. It can be stressful at time, but we have been blessed by having a food storage we can use during this difficult time. I am amazed at how little we can get by on when we have to. This experience has made me look at all the things I have instead of my usual mind set of looking at all the things I don't have.

I have even managed to finish another layout for our scrapbook. I used my stash of scrapbooking supplies and had fun doing it!! It will be a while until I can buy anything new for favorite hobby, but that is o.k. because I have a ton of stash to go through!!

A new school year

2010-09-17T15:18:00.001-06:00

Well it is a new year, school year that is and if you are under 8 September is the beginning of the new year!! I am excited to finally be in my third year of University and have big plans to graduate within two years. Of course that means my scrapbooking takes a back seat to research, notes, reading and studying, but I have worked on a few more pages this month.

The title for this page was created using rubber stamps and ink. It involves a technique known as kissing.

1. Ink up a large background stamp with desired color of ink.
2. Press letter stamps (kissing) on the inked background stamp to pick up the ink. Do not rock or slide as it will smear the design of the background.
3. Stamp letter on desired paper and voila letters with texture!

Catching up

2010-08-12T11:31:00.000-06:00

I sure have a lot of catching up to do!! I officially finished scrapping photos from 2006!! I now have to scrap 2007. Just the beginning stages take a lot of time. First I have to go through my albums and see which photos from 2007 I may already have scrapped. Then I look at all my digital photos and choose which ones I will include in my albums. I copy them into a file named print so that when I am ready to scrap I can print a few pics. Once the pics are printed I delete the copies from my print file so I won't waiste time and money on double prints. Then I can being scrapping.

I used Pearl Ex in some of my chipboard letters on a recent layout. I first painted the letters white with acryclic paint. When the paint was dry I applied Versamark Ink and then dusted on some Pearl Ex. The Versamark helps the poweder to stick.
Here is a link for a tutorial an on how to use Pearl Ex to make a melted pearl effect. Very pretty!!
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/pearl_ex_melted_pearls/

Owen's birthday layout from 2007 just finished yesturday!

Finally some free time!!

2010-07-23T11:55:00.003-06:00

so excited for the free time I have this summer. I have made about 5 new layouts this week and even got my two girls to do one as well. We are so far behind that we are working on photos from 2006! The weather hasn't been that great so all the rainy days mean more time to occupy with indoor activities. I choose scrapbooking of course!!

I recently discovered Picasa, a free photo editing, storage etc. on Google. I love it. It makes sharing and uploading my photos and layouts much easier.

My daughter Emma put this page together

I love the way the scalloped edge on this paper looks in my album.

We made it to the end

2010-06-24T10:17:00.001-06:00

Well this semester was quick and intense. I really enjoyed discussing "Freaks and Geeks" with my classmates. This course made me look inward to how I treat and view people who were not born with what many people call a normal body. I still struggle with knowing the "right" way to act around those that are different then me. Do I ignore their "disabilities" and possibly marginalize them or do I dote on them bringing yet more attention to their difference?
As for those that just like to act and dress differently, I hope the tolerance my parents taught me only grows as I try to better myself and that my children will be better than myself and their children better than them. This is my hope for how the world will always be getting better and not worse as so many people believe.
Have a great summer and I am so excited to think the summer means finally I will have some time to do some scrapbooking!!!

Never Let Me Go

2010-06-15T09:08:00.000-06:00

This has been my favorite book this semester!! I love the narration, it's like I am talking to an old friend. So far there have been two parts that have really struck me. The first was when Kathy had moved to the Cottages and notices others mimicking things from television. This is reality in our day. Not just children, but teens and adults too. Our attitudes and values are highly effected by the content in the media.
The other incident also had to do with the media. When Kathy was looking through the magazines trying to see "herself" in the faces on the pages. I can remember as a teenager being an avid reader of several teen magazines. I thought that if I could look like the girls in the pictures I would be beautiful, have worth and know that I was normal. This scene was so literal that for me it was a powerful allusion to the way we look for self validation from outside sources. If we are lucky most of us will get this self validation from loving parents at least at the start of our lives, but these characters never had that.

On the topic of cloning, (I missed the debate) I say that a being with human DNA deserves to be loved and valued as a person. I am against cloning people to us them for medical reasons. I believe that when the heart begins to beat that person has a soul and is an individual no matter if they were made in a lab or in a bed. Otherwise those people born by artificial insemination shouldn't be considered the same as us either. And if being able to produce babies is an indication of what is human and what is not then we would have to rule out as human those men and women born with problems in their reproductive systems as well.
Life is life, if we create it we should love it and cherish it.

Freak or Norm?

2010-06-07T11:16:00.002-06:00

The article on the upcoming movie we will view in class was really interesting. I think is will help me as I watch them movie to think about all the stereotypes society still associates with "freaks".
I like the idea that freakishness is only skin deep because it can be true for those born with "defects" but society doesn't reserve the label "freak" for only those with physical abnormalities so the statement can also be contradicted.

I have a friend who was born without arms and I see her as just as normal as myself. She can drive, ride a bike, do her hair, cook, assemble crafts and she is also a great wife and mother. When I am with her I don't notice her missing arms and when I am not with her I often marvel at her positive attitude and talents. She is an inspiration to me not something to fear.

On the other hand the term "freak" has been applied to others not for their physical appearance, but for their outlandish ideas. If you watch any reality t.v. show especially ones that require you to present your ideas like Dragon's Den or Shark Tank, many presenters are made to feel like freaks because of their ideas.

Perhaps society's only true freaks are those afraid of differences in appearance, beliefs and ideas. In this way freakishness is not skin deep at all, but is something that is found deep within ones soul.

Nights at the Circus

2010-06-01T11:01:00.000-06:00

The use of mythology and more modern allusions to fairy tales is interesting. It brings me back to childhood when I believed with all my heart the stories of Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland and Thumbelina. I believed in fairies and would hunt for them in the forest and fields of my childhood. With this first book I am brought back into this world of believable fantasy. Could it be real, a women born with wings? There are many people born with abnormalities, some call miracles other birth defects. But does being born outside the norms of human bodily expectations necessarily mean there is a defect. By definition doesn’t defect infer a flaw. In biggest flaws of character in the story are invisible to the eye, their human bodies are whole and perfect yet as Fevvers states on page 63 they are “ troubled in their . . . souls.”

I have really enjoyed this book. I especially find interesting the blatant degradation of the men. For example the circus "boss" who gets all his ideas from a pig, the clowns who are a parallel to prostitutes and that the only intelligent male members of the circus are the apes. I loved the idea that any "ape" dressed in a business suit with money can go any where and get any thing he desires.

A few pics of the mythological references: Nights at the Circus

2010-05-27T11:04:00.033-06:00

As I began the second book for my English course, Nights at the Circus, by Angela Carter, I was impressed by the number of mythological references. They seemed to lend an air of believability to the story of a girl born with wings, like it wasn't a completely new idea so it could happen!! One of the important characteristics of Magical Realism is the blending of fantasy and reality in a believable way and I thought this was a great way to begin the story. I decided to look some images to put with the references and look forward to commenting further on the political statements put forth in the form a fantastical story.

This is a depiction of Leda and the Swan. The story of how Zeus came to Leda and either raped or seduced her the same night she conceived with her husband is referenced in the beginning of the book. A similar image that Fevvers saw in her "home" and she fantasized as how she could have been conceived.

Winged Victory - This piece does not have arms and wings. In the book they get around this small problem by revealing that the piece in its perfected form did have arms.

Image of a Valkyrie, a female, winged figure in Norse mythology, who helped decide who will die in battle.

Geek Love

2010-05-21T20:35:00.003-06:00

Well I finally finished the whole book! I can honestly say I have never been more horrified at any piece of medium. No movie, picture, song or story I have taken in to my mind has ever contained more shock material or profanity. Many times during my literature classes at the University of Calgary I have wonderder, "If intelligent people express themselves articulately and forcefully without the use of profanity, why must we be required to read it to 'broaden our minds'?"

The story however did make me think about the way things are, the way I look at others who are "different" from myself. It made me question if I see them as "human" as I see myself. Do I consider that they have thoughts, fears, joys, hopes and ambitions?

My favorite quote is found on page 226, "The only liars bigger than the quack are the quack's patients". We must think for ourselves. Often we let the media dictate to us how we should look, what is beautiful, how we should treat others, what we should and should not tolerate, who deserves to be honored etc. It makes me ask myself like Oly asked Arty on page 269, "Are you swallowing your own line of *#*#?"

Freaks and Geeks comense

2010-05-18T11:44:00.003-06:00

My blogging space will be used for my English class this spring. I think it will be a great way to share thoughts in an informal way on what we have read. I think it will be fun and interesting to see how others think.

Soo much fun

2010-02-19T12:41:00.003-07:00

I never got to complete as many challenges for the on-line crop last weekend that I wanted to, but I sure had fun a few. One of my favorites was a challenge to create paper roses from this tutorial

http://scrappyartcrafters.blogspot.com/2009/12/step-by-step-paper-roses.html

It looks hard but was quite simple. Give it a try, you are going to love it. Here is my the layout I used my roses on.

"Love" to scrapbook!

2010-02-08T08:53:00.005-07:00

I am part of the online community over at Scrapbook Deals 4 U and it is so much fun. They always have great challenges and sketches and if that isn't enough to get your creative juices flowing you can find 100s of great ideas in the gallery. I like this sight because the ladies are so sweet and never make you feel inadequate.

This Valentine weekend is a great on-line crop check it out by clicking the title for this post, it is a link that will take you to the site with the details.
Here is one of my layouts from a challenge last month at scrapbookdeals4u.com

A new Year

2010-01-12T13:20:00.005-07:00

My last post in May was the last time I scrapped a page in 2009. I have been insanely busy with University classes, church responsiblities and work. I realized my work was more than I could handle so I am no longer among the ranks of the employed and I love it!! I have been able to begin scrapping again. This year I am planning to use more of my stash, but have a new plan on how to get rid of it faster. I am involving my three children. I will scrap with them and help them expand their knowledge of scrapbooking as they help me expand my pool of creativity.

Here are some examples of our scrapping for January.
Owen age 6

Emma Rose age 10

Sabrina age 12

Back to losing!

2009-05-20T15:36:00.003-06:00

Well I have made at least another 12 layouts since my last post. I actually ran out of 12 x 12 card stock that I use for my base but other than that I have been using my stash. That brings the total to 30. Pretty good!

I have been studying some books from the library to add to my base knowledge on what makes a great page. There is a plethora of books on scrapbooking and techniques. A great (and free) resource for learning and inspiration.

Platue

2009-04-16T16:56:00.002-06:00

I have hit a platue. I have been so busy with the end of my full time University of Calgary semester I have not been scrapping. Well, I can always recommit to doing at least one page a week. I have a lot more stash to loose!!
I just need to take a few minutes for me and get one done. Hope to show you one soon.

Still scrappin' off my stash!

2009-03-27T13:57:00.006-06:00

I am still scrappin' off my stash (the product I had before January 2009). I have made 8 more layouts in the past 2 weeks and that brings my total to.......18. So you know I have been using my stash, but let me tell you what I used on this page.

1. Stickers - one is a border sticker

2. Scrapbook white page insert. I used reinker and sponge to make it orange

3. Clear embossing powder on the orange to add texture to the page.

4. Title Rub-on

5. Lined pattern paper

6. Card stock

7.Stamps

8. Punches, I punched out circles in the paper I stamped so the orange would show through and I also added navy card stock to show through the punched out circles.

9. Journaling pen

10. Adhesive

11. Pattern paper

That seems like the equivalent of a major workout in the losing weight world!! Try creating a layout using at least 8 things from your stash, it is fun.

Small set back

2009-03-09T13:42:00.006-06:00

O.k. I had what we call in the diet world a set back. In other words I cheated. I bought some scrapbooking supplies, but the deals were so great! I will still continue to scrap with my stash and not use this new stuff for a few weeks(until it's delivered!). This week I made a fun waterfall card for Mother's Day and 2 new layout and joined a new website http://inspiredblueprints.ning.com/
That brings my count up to 10 layouts and 1 card

Still going

2009-03-03T14:55:00.006-07:00

I am having soo much fun with my personal challenge. I have made two more layouts bringing the total up to 9. I am entering challenges on websites and trying to win a RAK to add to my stash without spending. This is fun and has started my creative juices flowing again. Who knew a diet could be so much fun?!?

I am adding a blinkie for a fun birthday celebration on one of my fave sites.

2009-02-25T14:19:00.001-07:00

I am going on a diet!! We are not talking about the typical New Year resolution to lose weight, I am talking about my checkbook and credit cards. Inspired by the Biggest (Scrap) Loser challenge I mentioned in my last entry, I have decided to try to see how many pages I can make from my current stash. The only thing I will spend money on is adhesive and page protectors! So far this year I have done 6 pages from my stash.

This personal challenge won't make the retailers happy, but sometimes we have to do what we have to do!

I will post one sample below and to check out others go to my fave sites http://www.creative-scrappers.com/ and http://www.scrapbookdeals4u.com/ to see my other pages. Everything done in 2009 has been from my stash. My screen name is Scrapbook Addict.

I wanted to use olive green as one of the color for the layout, but never had any 12 x 12. Instead of going out and buying more paper, I used the white insert from the scrapbook album pages, which are also acid free, and used one of my background stamps and olive ink. I used my scraps to add more of a green accent. Stamps and ink come in handy when trying to save money!

Get some motivation

2009-01-29T09:14:00.001-07:00

I have been so busy this past semester at University I haven't taken much time to add to this blog or even to do that much scrapbooking. I want to do at least one layout per week and I have found the motivation from on line sites such as http://www.scrapbookdeals4u.com/ and http://www.creative-scrappers.com/. The challenges and galleries can help you focus your layouts and help to disipate that overwhelming feeling of where to begin.

Right now I am participating in a biggest (Scrap) looser challenge at srapbookdeals4u to use up all of my stash. It isn't costing me a penny and it is sooo much fun. Check it out and join in! So far I have completed 2 layouts from my stash.

This is a page I did with my stash. I love how it turned out!

Scrapbooking moments

2008-09-22T12:49:00.000-06:00

Your scrapbook doesn't have to just be a travel log of your vacations and family outings, you can add treasures for your posterity by scrapping feelings and observations. I did this page for my daughter's book and she loves it. She even told me it was special to her. Scrapbooks can be a great way to boost your childs sense of belonging and self-esteeme. Try a page today!!

I am back

2008-09-18T16:23:00.000-06:00

Well is certainly has been a while!
This one is a lyout about thinking outside the box. I did a challenge where we were not allowed to use any adhesive. It made me think and I even had to get out my sewing machine! Give it a try.

cutting up PP

2008-06-30T21:21:00.000-06:00

I recently tried a few layouts with pattern paper. This is not new, but for me cutting is up was. It was hard at first. I felt like I was wasting paper, but the results convinced me otherwise. You try it or something new. Step out of your scrapper comfort zone!!

How to catch up

2008-06-24T11:23:00.000-06:00

Well it has been a while since I added to my blog, but I have been busy scrapbooking!!
I have a family album as well as an album for each of my 3 children and have been working on the year 2005. As I have been playing catch up I have realized that I sometimes can not remember all the details and feelings of the moment and that lead me to the realization that I need to do my most current pics then work backwards. This way I capture my feelings as I journal the present and eventually I will also catch up with the older memories.

Here is some of the pages I have completed.

Check out these altered items

2008-05-29T09:40:00.001-06:00

Here is a great link for instructions for all kinds of altered items. Enjoy and give one a try!
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3314

More than a layout

2008-05-28T18:24:00.001-06:00

You can use your creative scrapbook layout talents and bring it into your home decor. Scrappers have been altering all sorts of objects from shadow boxes, clocks and even shoe boxes. Gather your courage and see what you can come up with.

Preserving names

2008-05-20T13:02:00.000-06:00

Today's tip is inspired by the tragic loss of my 7 year old niece last week. As I was looking back at some of the last photos I had of her, I realized it was important to record the names of those who are in my pictures. I sometimes assume that whoever is looking at my scrapbooks will know everyone in my family and so do not often list names or label photos. With the separation from my niece brings a realization that my own children may not know who they are looking at in the photo.

A few ideas are to label the photo directly, use names for the title or use names when journaling. Here are examples of each:

Sign up for a monthly kit

2008-05-14T13:16:00.000-06:00

Another great way to change up the look of you scrap layouts is to subscribe to a monthly kit. You will always have new products to add to your collection. These layouts were made with the contents of the April kit found on scrapbookdeals4u.com.

Sketch Challenge

2008-05-13T15:04:00.000-06:00

This is a layout I did for a sketch challenge from scrapbookdeals4u.com

How to get out of a layout rut!!

2008-05-12T15:08:00.000-06:00

Ever feel like your pages are starting to all look the same? This happens to me because I really like things arranged on the page based on a grid. To help me stretch my creative limits I do a few different things.
The first thing you can try is searching for sketches that look very different from your own style and stick to the page map. This can help you use your paper in a new way, journal more or less and focus on new elements on the page.
Flipping through scrapbook magazine can also help spark your creativity.
Another thing that I find very helpful is joining a scrapbook group. There are many groups in every community and even on line. These groups will often have challenges with rules to base your layout around, thus encouraging you to step outside your usual "box" This week I am going to participate in a few challenges and post the results.

Sketch

2008-05-09T09:53:00.000-06:00

This is another take on the sketch I am doing this week. I used products from a monthly kit I got off of scrapbookdeals4u.com. I used 2 4x6 pictures instead of 3 3.5 x 5. It turned out well. I like the large space left for journaling on this sketch.

Sketches

2008-05-07T08:06:00.000-06:00

I want to share my experiments with sketches this week. I found this one on amillionmemoresblog.blogspot.com on their March 2008 newsletter. http://www.amillionmemories.com/newsletter/MARCHNL.pdf

I hope to try a few different themes using the same sketch and see what kind of variations I can come up with. Feel free to play along!!

Scrap the little things

2008-04-28T14:56:00.001-06:00

Well Spring has sprung and the snow has melted, at least for a few days here in Alberta. I feel so great!! Time to scrapbook those spring events like picking the first dandelion or planting the flowers. When I look through my mother's piles of pictures I wonder what was happening at this particular moment or what my mom was feeling. Having lost my mother to leukemia 5 years ago I can no longer ask these questions and I have become determined to scrap my thoughts and feeling on everyday occurrences. Don' t think it has to be a holiday, birthday or family vacation to take a picture. Document the everyday things. This will be a treasure for future generations.

Journaling

2008-04-24T11:11:00.000-06:00

Althought as times it is nice to add your specific memories or heartfelt thoughts to your layout, another idea is to use a poem, quote or lyrics from a song. This can be a fun and easy way to journal when you have writers block!

You also have the choice of using handwritten journaling or using your computer. When using the computer, I type what I want adjusting it to the font and size and then print it on regular paper. I then take the piece of cardstock or vellum I want the journaling to be on and hold it up to see if any more position or sizing requirements are necessary. When it is perfect I tape on the cardstock and run it though the printer again. Viola!

Journaling

2008-04-22T09:23:00.001-06:00

Journaling is one of the most important components of your scrapbook layouts. With out journaling viewers are left to guess what has happened, when it happened and to whom it happened. Journaling can be a fun creative component. In this layout I did the journaling from my 2 year old's perspective ie. "Mom was working on papers at the table and I wanted to do homework too, so she got me some paper and markers"
Other journaling I really enjoy looking back on is in a form a a letter to my child. I did this for each of them in their infant years. I wrote about how much I loved them and what my hopes were for them to achieve.

Dry Embossing

2008-04-16T08:27:00.000-06:00

Dry embossing does not involve powder or heating to accomplish a raised look.

You use a brass stencil and stylus (a sort of pen looking tool) and a light table makes the job easier as well.

First Secure your stencil to the light table with masking tape and then secure the cardstock on top of the template. Turn on your light box and trace around the edges of the stencil with your stylus. A stylus has two ends; each a different size so you can choose the size that bests fits the design on your stencil. Press firmly, but be careful not to rip the paper (kind of an oxymoron). Don't worry about rubbing all over the design like a rub-on, the center of the traced design will automatically be raised.

Embossing

2008-04-14T08:09:00.000-06:00

Embossing is a great way to add 3-D to your scrapbooking layouts. Whether it is dry embossing or if you use powder it looks great in scrapbooks or for your cards.

To emboss with powder first you need an ink that is slow drying for example Versamark. Versamark is great because it is clear and will not effect the color of the powder you throw on it. To prevent the embossing powder from sticking to areas you do not want it to, use a little chalk pillow called an embossing buddy. Simple wipe it over the area before you are stamping. The next step is to stamp with Versamark and then throw on some embossing powder and shake off the access.
Once your embossing powder is on you heat it with a craft heat gun. Wave the heat gun back and forth over the image as to avoid burning off all the powder or scorching the paper. CAUTION: heat guns get very hot and can burn or melt working surfaces be careful!

Findin' time

2008-04-11T13:01:00.000-06:00

Well I have shared my ideas of saving money and time, but what about finding time. The best way to be efficient with your "free" time is to make sure everything is organized. You will need to find a system that works for you. Some like to organize by color families others by category such as Christmas, Baby girl etc. There are many wonderful products to help you organize all your supplies from papers and stickers to flowers and punches. Take a look and see what will work best for your scrapbooking area.
Another thing I find essential is to schedule time for myself to scrapbook. Whether it is with a group of girlfriends, club or class this really ensures you get a couple of layouts done. Another thing I have started to do is turn off the t.v. and scrapbook, I am getting tons done!!

Save on time

2008-04-09T21:39:00.001-06:00

I recently discovered, to my delight, scrapbook layout sketches available on line. Some genius scrapper has already thought out the page design and now all you do is follow and change things to fit your needs and preferences. You can Google scrapbook sketches or scrapbook maps. Here are a few of the good ones I have come across so far.

http://www.scrap-maps.com/

http://www.pagemaps.com/

http://www.sketchlover.com/

Another way I save time and also jump start my inspiration for new layouts is a great scrapbooking magazine or book. My fave is Canadian scrapbooker. I am never disappointed and in fact I scraplift a lot from this wonderful magazine that is well worth the $12.00.

Another money saving idea

2008-04-09T08:28:00.000-06:00

Another idea for economical scrapbooking both financially and time wise is to buy scrapbooking kits. As an example I photographed 3 of my 2 page layouts I made with a kit I purchased for under $10.00. I still have plenty left in the kit to easily do 3 more 2 page layouts. The tags, letters, frames, boarders and of course the pattern paper all came in the same package. IT saves time because everything you need is right there and it all matches. Putting together a layout is a breeze.

You can buy scrapping packages ,or kits as they are sometimes called,like these at Wal-Mart, craft stores or even from on-line communities like www.amillionmemories.com or www.scraptivity.com. There are hundreds of places to find monthly kits.

Save your money

2008-04-08T09:39:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite money saving stores is Costco. No I am not talking about grocery shopping!!
You can find leather bound scrapbooks with page protectors 2 for less than $20.00. One of these can cost $40.00 or more in your local scrapbook and craft stores. I also find wonderful packages of pattern paper for cheap, cheap, cheap. I have even picked up chipboard letter and accents. It is well worth the membership costs as you can save on everything from beauty and scrapbook supplies to your kids socks and pajamas.
P.S. No I do not work for Costco, I just love it!

Economical scrapbooking

2008-04-07T14:16:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the late post, I have been studying for my History final.
When I think of economical scrapbooking I think of two things, finances and time.
I will start with financial economy. We all know we can save money on clothes by buying at the end of the season. The same goes for scrapbooking supplies. Check out your local scrapbook store's clearance section. Even if you are not planning any Christmas or Halloween layouts right now they come every year and it is a good ideas to stock up on everything from paper to embellishments. Even flowers and buttons go on sale, especially if they are holiday theme colors.

Experiment

2008-04-04T10:39:00.001-06:00

There are dozens of shapes, sizes and colors of various hardware out there to add to your layouts. There are colored staples and fasteners, shaped paper clips and buckles. Here is a link to a really cute card. Just get yourself a hole punch and eyelet setter and give it a try!!http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/872040?si=brads

Eyelets

2008-04-03T10:49:00.001-06:00

O.k. for you who have never set an eyelet, lets go through it step by step

1. Punch hole for eyelet

2. Set eyelet into hole and turn everything to the back side. Put pointed side of eyelet setter in back hole of eyelet and give one good whack with hammer. The eyelet will not be flat but starting to spread

3. Remove setter and give one final whack with hammer to flatten. Viola, turn over and marvel.

2008-04-02T08:33:00.000-06:00

Hardware such as that pictured above can add a nice touch to your layout. In order to customize it I used my computer and printer to print on the color of cardstock and with the color of ink that would match my layout. To do this simply use a document application like Word and once you have the font and color you want print it on regular computer paper. Then use your hardware to check the size and make the necessary adjustments. Once it is just right, lightly adhere the cardstock exactly over the printing so when you run it through again it will be lined up.

2008-04-01T07:55:00.000-06:00

Brads come in different shapes and sizes. I really love these gemstone ones. I used them as the center for the flower embellishments on this page. To use a brad you use a small hole punch and put the brad through then spread open the backs. You can try to push them through the paper without punching, but I usually find that it bends the brad.

2008-03-31T08:01:00.000-06:00

This week I want to focus on the different hardware embellishments like brads and eyelets and ideas on how to use them. I used mini black brads as nails or tacks in this layout. They add a nice 3-D look to the page

2008-03-28T10:25:00.000-06:00

Stamps can be used to create faux pattern paper as in the right hand side of this layout. To create stripes you must mask off the other area, like when you paint a room, that you do not want to get ink on. Here I stamped the images in the desired colour and then used a sponge dipped into the ink pad to dab on more color.

2008-03-27T09:06:00.000-06:00

Stamps are wonderful tools to make your own background paper. For a subtle look stamp your images using the same colour of ink as your cardstock. I used a self inking jumbo wheel to make the snowflake background for the title in the above layout.

Chalks

2008-03-26T08:58:00.000-06:00

Chalks can be used in various ways with your stamps. In this photo chalk was used to color in the image that was stamped in black. This is very easy to do. You simply dip a small applicator (similar to a make-up applicator or use a q-tip ) into the chalk and gently rub on to the cardstock. It is wonderful and you can choose colors to match your background cardstock, again the advantage is over stickers. You are stuck with the designers choice of color when using a sticker.

Stamped embelishments

2008-03-25T11:10:00.000-06:00

Stamps can be purchased in sets so that they can be used in two steps. This eliminates the task of tedious coloring with markers and masking to achieve a multi colored image. This flower was stamped in pink and the coordinating circle was done in yellow for a quick two colored embelishment.

Ink can be used to add dimension as in the sample above. The square of white cardstock was dragged across an ink pad in a technique called direct paper to pad.

Stamping in your scrapbooks

2008-03-24T20:38:00.000-06:00

Stamping is something I do a lot in my scrapbooks. Stamps are quite economical as they can be used over and over again with different colours and techniques, unlike a sticker. I use letter stamps for titles, and simple shapes for backgrounds and embellishments. Stamping is quick and lends a custom, handmade look to a page.

2008-03-21T08:56:00.000-06:00

Today's photo is to demonstrate how a rub-on can be used directly on a photo. You can find elaborate rub-ons to use as corner ornaments that appear to be part of the photo or like a stamp. The advantage of using a rub-on over a stamp is some stamps are on wooden blocks so the placement is pretty much a guess and a rub-on won't smear like some inks can.

Tip: Make sure you have "rubbed" the entire image off the paper before lifting as a rub-on can be delicate and tear.

Rub-ons

2008-03-20T07:49:00.000-06:00

I love rub-ons!! I have discovered you can put these instant embellishments on almost anything. You can rub-on to a button or ribbon so as to add co-ordinating embellishments to your scrapbook pages or even directly onto your photo. At companies like Stampin-Up (http://www.stampinup.com/) you can get rub-ons to match your stamps and punches to add a truly customized and professional element to your pages. Rub-ons do not have any overhang around the image like a sticker so they look like they have been printed directly on the item you have customized yourself.

I rubbed-on to a clear button. The black flower is also a rub-on, then punched out.

TIP: To keep rub-ons with their backing in tact, cut off the piece you will use. Sometimes stapling on the backing helps.

Finding the important things

2008-03-19T15:26:00.000-06:00

It is my view lately as I try to navigate my busy schedule that sometimes I don't do anything that great for society. Who's agenda is it that I am so busy doing good things that I don't have time for the important things, like helping out my neighbour or volunteering at a community organization?

My confession for today is I spend more time trying to figure out how to make more money than I do trying to figure out who I can help, or how I can be a better person.

Day 1

2008-03-18T14:32:00.000-06:00

Well actually I have been a SAHM (stay at home mom) since before my daughters birth. How is that possible you might say. Well, my mother was a SAHM and her's before that. I have always wanted to be a SAHM and that is what I am blessed to be.

So Day 1 simple refers to the beginning of my blog. Finally I am getting a blog. SOme of my friends have one, so let's see what it is all about!!

My confession for today is I am doing this instead of playing Lego with my 5 yr old son. He says I am playing on the computer and wonders why I don't have to set the 15 minute timer like he does when he has a turn on the computer. Sometimes I just want me time, selfish, but true!!