Layouts- I Need Some Scrapping Tips!

 

Yummy flocked paper. Do you ever scrap Black and White photos? I wasn't really sure what to do with this one, but I knew I had to use it! 

Do you ever use transparencies? Again, I had no idea what to do with it. I know some people cut them up and just use pieces, but I couldn't bring myself to do it! I ended up layering the photo + mat under the transparency sheet (the tree overlaps the photos) and adhered the title over the transparency. What do you think? Any tips on using transparencies?

A Week In The Life Album

I finally got around to photographing my Week In the Life Album, as I mentioned here. 

I hope you enjoy peeking at the finished product!

What I liked and will probably do again next year:

8 1/2 by 11 album size

baseball card protectors 

American Crafts D-ring album

5x7 photo for the first page of each day

What I will probably do differently:

I need more than two pages + baseball card protector for each day

I definitely need to leave more room for journaling

I wanted to use more stamps and embellishments

Capture more toys, appliances, and technology

Project 365: Week 46

As promised, I did a much better job with daily photo-taking this week. Here's a peek at our busy lives:

Sunday- Playdoh at 7:30am. Really, what else is there to do?

Monday- Pancake and bacon night, compliments of the hubs.

Tuesday- This little tree is in our front yard. I love the bright red berries it produces in the fall!

Wednesday- We survived the school skating/PJ party. Barely.

Thursday- I had the day off work but the kids were in school, so I got started on Christmas shopping!

Friday- Monthly scrapbooking crop. I set a personal low record of 2 layouts completed. Jeez.

Saturday- My husband's cousin's son turned One! Fun party.

Join me tomorrow when I (finally) reveal my completed Week in the Life album!

Fall Scrapbook Pages

I LOVE fall! I love taking photos and scrapbooking fall events. Here are a couple of recent pages that I completed at a scrapbook retreat last month.

 Using a "reverse matting" technique as taught by Becky Teichmiller of Scrap-Tastic. Products: Scrap-Tastic kit, Glimmer Mist, CM circle punch, Prima butterflies.

 

Also using a Scrap-Tastic kit. I won the orange bling during one of Becky's weekly classes. Love those Prima flowers with the feathers. Other products include stamps by Unity, Martha Stewart border punch, Chocolate Chip ink from SU, Glimmer Mist and Glimmer Chips.

 Thanks for stopping by today and seeing some of the fun I've had this fall!

The Happy Book: Happy Feet

Here is a picture of my favorite pair of shoes:

NOT!!!!

For someone who is ordinarily fashion un-conscious, I spend a lot of time picking out and trying on shoes. For one thing, I am in and out of people's homes to work with their children on a daily basis. I usually take off my shoes to be polite. So, my shoes have to be easy-on, easy-off. Secondly, Comfort is King.  If my feet hurt, the rest of my body hurts. If my body hurts, I am grouchy and unhappy. If I'm not happy, ain't nobody happy!

Here's a real picture of shoes I actually own and wear: 

Today's Happy Book assignment is a part of The Next Chapter book blogging group, led by Jamie Ridler. Here are some happy questions to ponder about shoes:

• where did you get your favorite pair of shoes?
• what do your shoes say about you?
• love or hate shoe shopping?
• how long have you had your favorite pair of shoes?

Wishcasting: How Do You Wish To Grow Older?

The ever-creative and insightful Jamie Ridler has posed this question for her weekly Wishcasting session. The idea? Answer the prompt, link up, then visit fellow wishers to encourage them in their dreams. The power of wishing en masse!

This is a great question for me, as at 34 I already feel old. I have more than one chronic illness, and many days my body hurts or just plain doesn't work right. It hurts even more on those days when I feel too ill to play with my kids, go to work, or make dinner. I'm a type-A personality, and being unable to do what I want, when I want, is tough on my ego and spirit. One of my diseases, Relapsing Polychondritis, is a progressive disease, so I know as the years pass it will get worse. This is a fact. So in light of this sobering news, how do I wish to grow older?

I wish to grow older healthy and with a continued love for life, despite my body's limitations.

Even though the cards are somewhat stacked against me, I know there are things I can be doing to promote my physical well-being. Things I'm not always so good at, like eating healthier foods, exercising, and getting enough rest. The added benefit of these actions is that they not only help physically, but mentally, too.

It's a great question to ponder, so spend some time with it. How do you wish to grow older?

Related articles

• Live well with a chronic disease (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• The 'Facing Your Fears' Edition of the Patients for a Moment Blog Carnival (ohmyachesandpains.info)

Project 365: Week 45 (ish)

My daily photo taking has been reduced to a once-in-a-while event. I have been inspired by those of you who have persevered, and promise to do better for the remainder of the year! Here are some photos I did manage to take over the past couple of weeks....

Math night at school- here Vivian is measuring the weight of a small pumpkin.

Bi-annual Girls Weekend. It was really nice outside so we took the festivities onto the hotel patio.

Spent a few hours at Trader's World flea market. Lots of good stuff!

Three witches and a...butterfly. My girls, my niece, and a neighbor had tons of fun trick-or-treating together!

This train set has not been played with in probably close to a year. This week it has been out every day!

We see where Vivian's loyalties lie. Herself and grandma. Go figure.

So I hope this is enough to get me back in the 365 "club". I'll be seeing you next week, promise!