Roll with the changes

Hey Scrappers! Long time no blog, huh? Well I didn't abandon my blog on purpose. In fact every day I haven't been able to blog has been tough. I don't know if any of you have been having any problems with Blogger but boy let me tell you, I certainly have. I have been trying to upload pictures and I keep getting error messages and it seems that when I do get my pictures uploaded, Blogger deletes them while I'm typing up my entries. This is so frustrating when it takes hours to write and upload a short entry when it should maybe take 15-20 mins. So those of you that love Blogger skip the next few lines because I feel like I have gone to the 'dark side'. I have opened a Type pad account for the Scrapping Sanctuary. I love blogging and if I have to continue to struggle with Blogger than I really think it's time that I find something that works better. I'm still working on the Type pad blog, making it look pretty and all, and I hope to have it up and running by the weekend. 

There's a few more changes I can see on the horizon. Last week I packed up all my stuff and moved out of my parents house and to a small apartment four hours away. At the end of June I will be moving again and hopefully it will be the last move for a while. With the move I had to quit my job working at the school that I have had for the past 8 months. It was hard to walk away but it had to be done. I have put in an application for a job that I would consider a dream at this point but I have my fingers crossed. So that means we are down to one income until I find out what happens with this application to see if I need to be looking for something else. A few great things have come out of all this change is that I am living with my husband again (he took a promotion in a different city and I didn't want to quit my job at the school so I waited to move) and I have all day while he's at work to scrap! If I can get Blogger to work I will try to upload pictures of a travel journal I'm working on and a Fall Pumpkin Patch mini I'm also working on.

Through all the change I keep reminding myself that all of these things are happening to me for a reason. I might not be happy with all this change and right now, that's okay with me. What's important is that I don't let it bother me too long and enjoy what I do have instead of looking at what I don't have and what I gave up. 

Okay, okay, back to work! Until later, Happy Scrappin! SB

Too Creative For My Own Good!

Hey Scrappers! Do you ever have those days where your brain seems to be going non-stop, like it's flooded with ideas and there's just no way to get them out fast enough? Well, the last two days has been like that for me! Yesterday I was checking out Paper Phenomenon's YouTube Channel and if you haven't checked her out, oh man you need to get over there NOW! She is such a talented woman. Anyways, in one of her videos she make a suitcase out of paper and chipboard. WAY COOL! The only thing I wanted to change was the size so I started playing around with some paper and I made a little demo version made out of just cardstock just so I could get some measurements. What's really funny is I'm no where near ready to actually start making it because I'm working on something else right now if you can even believe that! What I am currently working on is a project for my Dad that I thought of a few weeks ago at 12:30 in the AM. I couldn't sleep and all of a sudden I thought of an was to use a small Tim Holtz configuration box that I bought a few months ago but didn't know what to do with. So yes, at 12:30 AM I got up and started writing notes and writing down my thoughts before forgot. Hey, I couldn't sleep anyways so might as well do something productive :) So today I painted the boxes and I made the CUTEST little book and when I say little what I really mean is tiny. I think it's about 2 inches tall! I would love to post pictures but the batteries in my camera is dead and Josh has my big camera so that explains that. I will try to get some batteries and take some pics sometime this week. I wish I could take a picture of what is inside my brain because I think when this project is done it is going to be, BY FAR, my favorite project I have ever done. I have other projects that I'm in the process of working on as well but these two are by favorites at the moment. I don't know why but it is extremely hard for me to start a project and finish it before moving on to the next thing. I really do think that my creativity sometimes get the better of me! Well, it's getting a little late so I think that is all for now.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'! SB

P.S. Check out Paper Phenomenon's blog site as well. She has patterns for her projects including the suitcase and I think they're pretty affordable. I'm actually thinking of purchasing her pattern for the suitcase but I want to see if I can do it first!

These are a few of my favorite things....!

Hey Scrappers! I'm always interested in what kinds of products other crafters are using so I thought I would share some of my favorites. This is going to be a series of posts so that I can post some pictures and explain how to use the product. I think the first thing I will start with is my paper trimmer. Well, really I have two and I love them both.

This is the paper trimmer I use to cut my chipboard. It is a rotary trimmer by Fiskars. I would normally use a real quilter's rotary blade to cut my chip but I don't have enough room on my craft table right now so until I rearrange, this works just fine! The only thing I don't like is I think the measurements are a little off. It could be me though...I'm not very good at cutting straight even with a guide!

This is the trimmer I use for all my paper. It also is a trimmer by Fiskars. It is so light and portable and the coolest thing is that there is a thing piece of wire that allows you to see exactly where the blade will cut. Another cool thing is that there are measurements on the top and bottom of the trimmer so you can measure the paper from both ends.

Well, I hope this was helpful. Next up...my favorite paper collections!

Until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Mommy and Me Night

Hey Scrappers! Well tonight's post is on a project that is very different from what I usually do. A while ago my mom asked me to help her with a project and tonight we finally got around to doing it. I think it turned out pretty beautiful myself but take a look for yourself...

The reflection on the mirror is catching a little bit of a candle holder on our wall but this was as good as I could get the picture! Anyways, I cut the letters out of black vinyl using my Cricut with the 'Nursery Rhymes' cartridge. My mom got the saying from her boss at work. I like it and it really fits the mood I'm in right now...maybe she should consider gifting it to me...lol! My Cricut was having a little trouble cutting out the smaller letters and I'm not sure if it was because the blade was dull or I just didn't have the settings right. Do you think I have the original instruction sheet that tells you helpful information like what setting to cut different materials with considering I've had it for a few years now? Um not a chance! Like I said earlier, I do really like the way it turned out and even though Mom says she's not creative at all, I think this project proves otherwise. It was fun bonding over a craft project!

Just a little update on what I've been up to these days. I know I've been slacking on posting but I have a kind of good excuse and a funny story to help explain...lol! I have been creating, a lot in fact. So what's with the lack of posts? Well, my husband puts it this way: My creativity goes so crazy that I get excited,but new products or start new projects and then never use the product or never finish the project because my creativity is already on the next thing. It's so true! So I'm trying this week to wrap some things up so I can post more and share more.

So until then, Happy Scrappin'! SB

Do You Miss Me Yet?

I feel like the last few weeks have been the longest of my life which explains why I have been slacking in the blogging area. If you think that's bad, I haven't been doing a whole lot of crafting either. I Last week I was pretty sick with a sinus infection and it wiped me out pretty good. I usually go to bed around 10:30/11:00 but last week I went to bed around 9/9:30 every night. Since then I have just been feeling extremely exhausted every night. Tonight I started covering a chipboard mini that I'm making about my 3 year old cousin. It seems like I have a ton of started projects I need to be finishing. There's just so much going on! I started working out again so I don't get home until later in the evening and then by the time I find something to eat....I'm sure you've all felt like there just isn't enough time. Today has been a really stressful day so I was surprised I was even in the mood to create but oh well! As I'm writing right now my contacts are so dry I can barely see the screen and I'm more than ready for bed. I'm praying that things will settle down in the next few months because I am more than ready to get myself back into the crafting groove and get some things accomplished! Until then, Happy Scrappin! SB

So Happy Together

Hey Scrappers! I managed to complete a layout a few weeks ago and yes I know, I'm just now getting around to posting it...lol. Check it out!

This layout is about 90% My Mind's Eye which is no surprise considering it's my favorite line. I just picked up some AWESOME new MME paper that I cannot wait to use! Anyways, here's an overview of the layout.

I made the title using gold Thickers letters and a sticker I got from the dollar section at Joann Fabrics. The stitching is also a rub on from the dollar section as well. I thought it really anchored down the title. I believe that is a Prima flower in the corner. The paper I used was from the Breaking Free collection.

This journal tag is from MME Life Stories Kraft Cardstock. This paper is REALLY heavy duty. There are tons of papers and tags in this collection for journaling but there is also really pretty distressed papers that I'm thinking of making a mini with because the papers are so sturdy. The flowers in the corner are Prima. I really need to start making more layouts I mean it is on my 101 Goal Challenge...lol. I'm just too stuck on minis right now! Well that's all for now! Happy Scrappin', SB

Punk Rock Valentines Day Mini

I love Valentine's Day! I know there are those out there who don't she in my sentiment but I can't help it. I love, Love, LOVE Valentine's Day. See now Valentine's Day isn't just about showing your significant other how much you love them, it's about your family too! I used a lot of different elements in this album...Enjoy!

This is just a basic paper bag alum that I made using pink paper bags. The angel wings are Tattered Angels resist chipboard that I misted with Glimmer Mist. I outlined all the pages and the cover with regular black acrylic paint. The journal tag and the tag in front of the wings is from Echo Park.

Here is what the album looked like after is was assembles and painted. Usually you want to embellish the pages before you bind them together just because they're easier to handle that way. I wasn't planning on embellishing a whole lot so I made them album and then embellished.

The plaid paper I got from the dollar section at Target. Isn't it cute?! The tag on the little flap is Echo Park.

Again, Target dollar spot flower paper and I LOVE this air balloon tag from Echo Park.

I had to much fun making this mini. Now all it needs is some pictures! That seems to be the issue with all my minis. I make the mini without any pictures in mind yet when I make layouts I always have to have the pictures first. Go figure!

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day and spent it with someone you love! Until we meet again, Happy Scrappin! SB