Inspired by BPC and May Flaum

 
One thing that seems to upset a lot of scrapbookers is that I use product to start my page. I found the SEI scraps, looked for an idea for design and when I was part way through I looked for the photos and story that would work. Cal's Hawaii shirt and the nice brown vertical of the background trees caught my eye as I scrolled through Picasa and then the story and title and rest of the page came together. Since some of my scrappy friends look at my blog, I thought a review of my scrap process might be interesting for some of them. As I indicated in my title, creating this page was driven by my attendance in the on-line class by May Flaum called The Curious Scrapbooker's Field Guide  at Big Picture Classes http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/
In April 2011, Jill Cornell had a layout published in Scrapbooks, etc. I liked her design of a basic 9 patch grid broken up with a row of ribbon and thought it would be a good way to use the materials I had found for my page. I moved the ribbon row up but kept the basic idea of her LO with similar photo placement, use of a tab and stitching.
In May's class we have been working on ways to add color and texture. I had used the SEI paper I found in my stash box of scrap to establish my color scheme. I tried to get some good visual triangles on my page to distribute the color (NH). The flow of the page fits the "Z" pattern (DH). My tab at the top was formed with 3 chipboard embellishments (NH).
I used pen work, stitching color, inking, a rhinestone, glitter brads, punched and die cut elements in my design to distribute the color and move the eye (and to disguise my particularly wonky stitching in patch #8, wonky outline stitching left at top of LO since I thought it worked well with my patch#1.. My design most varied from my inspiration by the placement of my title and the use of journaling strips. The original design was a little more strict in adherence to the grid. While I did not go wild in breaking out, I did loosen it up a bit.
I love texture and think the ribbon, stitching, chipboard and raised elements add that to this page.
I noted my other teachers who inspired my thinking on this LO. (NH) is Noel Hyman and (DH) is Debbie Hodge. Love Paperclipping http://www.paperclipping.com/ and Get it Scrapped http://debbiehodge.com/.
A little scrap lifting, a lot of stash (includes SEI, AC, Girls Paperie, Bazill & Pink Paislee) and some four year old photos that had a story I wanted to tell resulted in this latest page.
Journaling reads: Joe is a family guy. His wife, Cathy, was unavailable that day but he decided that would

not prevent quality family time. So, a call to his Dad(Cal) and me and an invitation extended

for a drive to Tahoe. We experienced lots of laughter and beautiful scenery.

The whole day reminded me of the Sunday drives my parents took with my siblings and me

when I was a  child. Time with “family matters”, indeed!

Cards

Yes, I'm making cards. I thought this would be more than a theoretical exercise in using up my stash. Nope!
A card has just a tiny area of "real estate", it just doesn't happen. I'll need to live to be Methuselah to get the stash used up.
My next plan may be mini books. I'm preparing blog entries for a blog hop soon at http://www.fiskateers.com
My cards almost always involve the use of my Fiskar's trimmer and bone folder tools. Scissors, too, natch!
Got to use my fun Soleil squeeze punch in this set, also.

Back to Blogging

I've just not been in the mood to blog. Possibly since I've not been much in the mood to craft. This blog is a way for me to keep track of my creative efforts and some of my family events.
However, I did attend CHA as a volunteer with Charity Wings (though I don't really do much because of my physical limitations, though I do have fun!) and I did write a blog post to document the activities of the volunteers. You can find it here at http://charitywingsnews.blogspot.com/
It was nice to see many of my friends. I didn't take a lot of photos but here a a few of my friends. More, of course, can be seen on that other blog post and then I must make my apologies to all the friends who didn't make it into photos. Yes, Ken, I know you stalk my blog and I should have a photo with you! And, apologies to all the other folk that I was so happy to greet at CHA.

I figured if I could write a few words for Charity Wings, I could write a few here.
Hope you enjoy the spring photos I've included. I always love to get pictures with creatures in them. Always great to see bees in the yard with all the fruit trees Cal has in our yard.
I did have a lovely time visiting with Elena after CHA. We ate yummy food and went to cool places like Urban Barn and to one of her book clubs,

So, it's back to blogging. That's a good thing. The creative wheels are turning, too. I'll try and get a few photos up in the next few weeks. 

It's "Faux", not "Fake"

 Had a lot of fun at Xmas visiting with my niece, Danielle. We went to a darling shop that had French antiques and quite a lot of things that "looked" like French antiques. We bought a few items and then we decided to make some of our own not so vintage antiques as personal Xmas presents. I bought more materials than we could use in one day, because I did not want her to be bored hanging out with me, though we did accomplish a lot in one day. I was over-prepared since her cousin, my son, Chris, had her spend a few days at his house. I called them fake antiques and Danielle strongly advised me to put the right emphasis on the exclusive nature of our original products by using the term in french - "FAUX". Spin is everything, of course. So, more projects for a future date either for me. Perhaps she may visit again soon?
Here are a few photos of our faux antiques - our beverage coasters, our boxed felted soaps, and our altered boxed matches. We did altered candles, too. Not quite as successful.

I did my twelve photos, but...

 I ended up completing a class assignment for SJ's class "Twelve" at BPC. Needed to take photos of numbers 1-12. After I did that, too tired to take more. However, these numbers are an interesting way of looking at life at the present.

Twelve Photos

 Today is the twelfth of January. Lots of folks are taking twelve photos today. Well, my goal is twelve photos that I want to feature for the day. I'll need to take about twenty times that number to get enough that are acceptable. Hmm, maybe I should say twelve photos at least and a few I think are good enough to post, LOL!
I took two pictures early this morning with my iPad when I woke up. Not so great pictures; but at least a start. I'm even surprised that I'm getting to this blog post today. I'm pretty regular at posting on Facebook but not so much at posting here. FB does not require "writing." Blogs do require writing. Yes, I am not so sure about my skills at literature, and the intimidation factor keeps me back. The paradox is the more I write, the likelihood I'll improve. I should resolve to write more. I did make some resolutions already. I plan to exercise at least three days a week and will eat mindfully. I also intend to do at least 12 scrapbook pages a month. I know these are pretty simple goals. Really would be terrific if I can stick with them.
Time to save this post and get back later with the photos.
In the event I do not get my photo goal accomplished, I'll add some pictures of my first five layouts of 2012 as proof that I am working on my goals. I'll also put up a not-so-flattering picture of me that will serve as a reminder of where I'm starting on my healthier journey for the year. The advantage of this photo is that sticking to my goals or not, any following picture is likely to look better!
If I meet the photo goals, I'll post those later today or this week.

January 1, 2012

 I was pretty good, though not perfect, at two posts a month last year. Maybe I'll find time for more posting this year. Started off the year with some scrapbook and healthy living inspiration at Big Picture Classes.
No definite plans for the year but will be getting a bathroom remodeled, maybe take a few trips - especially to see the youngest grandkids.
My One Little Word for the year - Present.
Like everyone else made plans for a healthier year and pledged to renew and strengthen friendships.
So tomorrow, need to work on past year's finances, finally get the info together for an updated trust and work more on photos and scrapbooking, just 'cause. Think I'll start it all off with the Rose Bowl Parade. Loved the trip that Cal and I took to see that and the game a couple of years ago.
My Uncle Ted turned 65 today. I guess we baby boomers are finally getting elderly. That and the Mayan calendar ending this year ought to give me pause. However, I'm taking that word PRESENT to heart and not getting emotionally involved with questions of age and mortality. No, today is the start of a New Year and a chance for new beginnings.