Happy Birthday!

It's my birthday! The big 2-5! I want to send a special thank you to the girls over at the forum for the sweet birthday wishes and to kaypey for the great card seen here.



Another thanks to wendy (wtunison) for this birthday card! Seriously, visit the forum, these ladies are fantastic!

P365: Photo Challenge

I started a photo challege over at the DDBN Forum for P365 participants or anyone who wants! You can get all the details here - but here's the first challenge:

Challenge 1: Head into your bathroom, grab all of the products you use to get yourself ready in the morning, throw it in a pile and take a picture!

Products that might be included: Toothpaste, lotion, hair product, makeup, soap, contact solution, face wash...etc.

Additional Challenge: Make a list of each item (be specific, brands, type etc.) along with the date - it will be interesting to look back in 10 years and see what crap you used put in your hair and on your skin vs. what you use then!

Can't wait to see your getting ready routines!

Layouts

Even with our Sunday chaos, I managed to get a few pages scrapped (only one from my 2007 challenge!...and here they are!

What a day!

(scroll down for Template #3)

Oh Sunday...what a fun day...

Every Sunday morning, after we're all awake, fed and dressed we create a list and head to the grocery store. The earlier the better, I hate it when it's crowded. So yesterday I grabbed my big, fat purple pen and pad of paper and opened the freezer to see what meat we had on hand...only to find that it was slightly smelly, warm and nothing was frozen.

I opened the fridge, yep. Warm. I was really annoyed, but thankful it was shopping day BEFORE shopping time...I called Mike in who helped me realize it wasn't unplugged (the light was working afterall) and that the circuit wasn't tripped...so as we figured out what freezer items might be salvagable I put a call in to the maintenence guy.

I ran over to my mother in laws to drop off the meat that was still mostly frozen...and was startign to get worried that they wouldn't be able to do anything for us because it was Sunday.

Later, I decided to finish cleaning out all of the spoiling food...when I realized the little dial that determines how cold it should be was turned to "0." I turned it up and the fridge started buzzing right away, problem solved.

When asked if he had anything to do with it, my three-year old told me "Zero's my favorite." And that's that.

Two garbage bags full of ruined food later...we had a fridge and could finally hit the grocery store...

Freebie Template #3

Alright, I will try to release a new template on Sunday's!

So, here's a new template for this week!



and here's my LO with it




Please don't forget to leave me some love, it takes a lot of time to create the templates and create them in so many formats to please so many people!

Freebie Expired - find this template and more at my store!

Project 365 Week 4

Alright! Here it is, week 4 of Project 365! Here we are, 25 days into the year and I have 25 pictures scrapped!

2007 in a nutshell

So when Adam was born I started a scrapbook for him. I am basically finished with 2005 and 2006 (a few random pages I need to finish for both) but I haven't been able to stay caught up. Here it is, 2009 and I am barely done with a scrapbook from 3 years ago! Not only am I this far behind on Adam's stuff but I haven't scrapped anything that's happened...not my trip, not our wedding, honeymoon, wedding planning...nothing. So I decided to back it up and get myself caught up.

So I spent a couple of hours this morning going through all of the 2007 Adam's pictures and made a list of all the dates that I wanted to scrap. Some months have a lot more then others and I won't necessarily get through all of it but this list is going to help me choose what pictures to use for a challenge or CT assignment....and hopefully it won't take me too long to get 2007 scrapped up!




*This doesn't mean I won't scrap any new pictures or pictures from other events...I also plan to get the same kind of thing made for 2008 and for the various other things I want to scrap.

I got started right away and scrapped up something from this list. Adam's first trip the the Children's Museum!

Award!

Deanna over at Flower Scraps gave me this fun award! Go check out her site, she's got a really beautiful winter kit right now called "Winter Spell!"



Now, I'm supposed to pass it on to 5 people who I think are fantastic too, so here we go! In no particular order...

1. Mike (Mooshka's Mind -My husband, even though he never updates anymore, he still rocks!)

2. Lyndsay (Nerdspecs Gets Crafty)

3. Vero (The Scrapping Tree)

4. Angie (cuz she rocks!)

5. Kathy (The Latest Scoop Too)

Thanks Deanna! You're awesome too!

Speed Scrap #3 Results...

I was finally able to attend a Speed Scrap at Digi-Designs by Nicole's forum and it was so much fun (even though it kept me up well past my bedtime!) Here is my layout, visit the forum to see what we had to do!



This is one of my FAVORITE pictures from our wedding this past August!

Don't forget to check out the Template Challenge I'm hosting and if you use templates leave me some advice here!

Monday Mayhem!

Alright, I admit that I love way too many of the silly reality shows and watch way to much TV. Especially on Monday nights!

I was trying to figure out what time my favorite show was on (Gossip Girl) when I realized how many shows I enjoy that are on Monday nights, most at the same time!

Check out my "schedule"

Gossip Girl (7-8)
Secret Life of the American Teenager (7-8 & 9-10)
Momma's Boys (9-10)
Samantha Who? (8:30-9)
True Beauty (9-10)
The Bachelor (7-9)

Yikes! Good thing most of these shows are online the next day!

Template Challenge (and a Freebie)

I am super excited to be hosting Template Challenge #3 at Digi-Designs by Nicole's forum. The challenge starts today and runs through the Feb 1. At the end of the month your layout will be entered into a drawing for a free kit from Nicole!

Freebie Expired - find this template and more at my store!



I can't wait to see what you guys do with it!

Project 365 Week 3

Here is my layout for week three. (I decided that I wanted my weeks to go Sunday-Saturday, so my previous layouts were redone to feature the correct images...that's why you see a picture here you saw last week)

Freebie Template (Template #1)

I love templates, they make life so much easier - they give me a starting point and most of the time my final product uses very little of the intial layout, it is still better then a blank canvas! I have been sketching ideas for layouts for years in my journal, and have decided to slowly convert them to digital templates. Here is Template #1 for your enjoyment!

My Layout using this template:

Template Preview:



Freebie Expired - find this template and more at my store!

TGIF, for realz...

This week has been a long one. The longest in a long time...

First, the cold. With temperatures well below zero (my mornings have been starting out at about 20 below with feels like temps of 30 below...) it's no surprise that I've been in a slump all week. Add to that coaching starting up again, this takes away a few nights a week working with high school kids, most of whom are too tired and just don't care to put in any real effort on their speeches; the adreniline and frustration (sorry honey...) of a brand new 46" plasma TV finding it's way into my living room; bad news at work (which lead to a 2 day emotional roller coaster that ended on the up swings but took a lot out of me); a date with friends canceled (and rescheduled); craziness at the office with people not following through on deadlines; the need to get laundry, dishes and other various household chores done but no desire...and you've got a crazy week.

Thankfully, good ole MLK will be celebrated on Monday. I plan to celebrate by taking Adam to school in the morning and just lazing around all day with my husband. This upcoming long weekend is going to go by way too fast, but at least it will bring some relief to this crazy week I've had. I can only hope that next week (and the 49 1/2 to follow this year) is better.

Love Me Softly

Vero has another great new kit called Love Me Softly

Click the preview to be taken to her store to pick up this giant kit!

My Layout:

The Scrapping Tree New Kits in Store

Vero has released a lot of new stuff in her store today, so go check it out. I was lucky enough to get to play with her new kit Garden Party. This kit is HUGE and was slightly overwhelming for me to work with, especially since it was my first assignment as a member of her CT.

Here is part of the preview - click to be taken to The Scrapping Tree Store to see more and pick it up!




And here is my layout:

Speed Scrap

This forum has been great for me. It was the first place I tried a challenge, and love them. I won't be able to participate in this speed scrap, but I will be chatting along from the office! Hope to see you there! Click the image to be taken to the forum!

Busy Weekend!

I had a busy weekend. I was trying to keep myself busy to keep my mind off of the work stuff (see previous post). Since we didn't have much to do, I plopped myself down in front of the computer and got some scrapping done! I participated in my first speed scrap (my program crashed 20 minutes before the deadline and I had to start over! Talk about nerves!) and also did a few other challenges. I completed my layout for one of The Scrapping Tree's upcoming kits and started my application for another CT...as always, click the layout to see full credits...

This page was for the speed scrap - I'm far too lazy to go find all of the steps...but it had to have a solid background, at least 3 pictures, a repeating word, a three-word title, journaling on something other then the background, at least one patterned paper and a cluster behind an image...(I think that's all!)...this might be one of my favorite pages ever...

This was for a word challenge...the word was "Learning"

And here's your sneak peek at The Scrapping Tree's new kit...details to come! Those who know me in real life...what's funny about this page?

Tonight I will be meeting the '08-'09 EP Speech Team for the first time...as I start my coaching for the season. I am thrilled to have been brought in as a specialty coach, I think it says something about my abilities. It should be fun (although I've read a few of the scripts already and it's going to be a depressing night...I have a ton of cancer, domestic abuse, a woman coming to terms with her daughters death, trying to fit in by starving yourself and more!)

Phew...

Well, this morning was the much anticipated second interview. I think it went really well. I felt good about all of my answers and felt comfortable in the situation. It's definately harder to interview with people you know, and know well. I was able to state my reasons for applying, including the reasons I wasn't happy in my current position. Since it's the same organization, it felt like a weight had been lifted once I got my feelings out there. I feel that even if I don't get this promotion, my co-workers and managers have a good understanding of what I am looking for and will help me reach some of my goals in my current postion.

Timeline? They hope to make a decision as early as next week...but it's still a little up in the air as one of the key parties is going to Florida next week.

I have my fingers crossed and will [im]patiently wait...and wait...and wait until I find out. I just hope that if I don't get it, they let me know at the end of the day so I don't have to sit around the office wondering why and feeling hurt.

Keep 'em crossed!

Big Boy!

I did this layout for a Recipe Challege at Digi-Designs by Nicole's Forum. The recipe was: 

1. Photo-as many as you want, but 1 must be matted

2. You must use at least 3 different papers (2 of which must be patterned) 

3. Flowers (at least 3)

4. Bow (at least 1)

5. Word Art

6. At least 2 sentences of journal writing

I matted my picture using my second patterned paper - I pulled out the stripes. Hope it counts! I didn't really want to put a bow in, but the template I used had three stitched "x's" where they are, and I think they work...I might have to play with them a little more. All in all, I'm happy with the lay out and now hooked on challenges. They do just that, challenge me. I did things I might not have otherwise (like adding flowers and bows to a boy layout) and actually allowed me to get a layout done in less then 2 hours...since I had rules to follow. I might have to do another! 

Perfect

I finished this page tonight as a part of a template challenge.I'm not totally in love with it, but I like how purple it is. As always, click for credits (and for my gallery).

On the job front...

I got asked in for a second interview! The interview will be Friday morning, bright and early. Hopefully they won't take as long after the second interview as they did after the first one...

Build A Kit

Stuff to Scrap is introducing a new type of product for 2010 - Build Your Own Kit. Pick up the pieces you need to make a kit that has just the stuff YOU like. Click the flyer to be taken to the Build A Kit section of the store - and scroll down to see what Nibbles Skribbles has contributed!

My contributions will only be available in January so if you like them, grab them!

Resolutions Part 2: Work

Beyond my goals (resolutions) for my personal life, I think it's a good idea for me to set some goals for my work life as well.

1. Actually take a lunch break. Most days I eat at my desk and work through lunch. Maybe I will bring a book and read for awhile or run errands over lunch, just do something that won't allow me to work during lunch. So I need to be away from my computer so I'm not answering calls or checking email. I get an hour for lunch, I will start with trying to take 30 minutes each day.

2. Get more organized. Go through my files and clean out old stuff, both on the computer and in my desk. Working on 2-3 campaigns at a time allows me to just toss stuff somewhere to get it out of the way. To accomplish this, 15 minutes before I leave each day I will take the time to put away all projects.

3. De-clutter. I have so much crap around my office, it's a mess! I will start by moving things that I don't need in here to their proper place -either the storage closet or work room. I can walk down the hall if I need envelopes or letterhead, I don't need it all in my office all the time. This will also be accomplished with goal 2: putting everything away at the end of the day.

4. Be on top of things. I am really bad about turning in expense reports, filling out my time sheet and tracking my time off. I need to get into a routine of doing these things more often. I will set a calendar reminder for my time sheet to go off an hour before I leave each day and another to go off on Friday afternoons for my expense reports. I am using a red pen on my personal calendar to mark my time off by what type of time I am taking to make it easier to track.

And there you go, 4 goals for my work life for the new year.

Project 365: Week One

Like many others, I am attempting project 365. I think with all of the people in blogland participating it will help keep me accountable. I have decided that my weeks will run Monday-Sunday (allowing me to scrap the page/s over the weekend). Since 2009 started on a Thursday, the first layout is a smaller one. I think this is going to be an interesting project, and I am looking forward to having an entire years worth of memories to look back on.

Top: Adam on new years day

Left to Right: My hallway, finally clean of laundry after months of piles on the floor, Brie taking a nap and me on a really, really bad day.

The Scrapping Tree

I am really excited to be a part of a Creative Team for The Scrapping Tree Designs! Vero does some amazing work and I am really excited to get to work with all of her kits! I created this layout using her portion of the New Year's Glitz convoy (which is still available for free: click the previews to be taken there now)!

My LayoutThe Girls and I ringing in new year's 2008

How I Organize my Scrap files

I've noticed a lot of talk these days on scrap kit organization. It took me awhile to figure out how to go about doing my stuff, but I finally found a system that I like - so I thought I would try to share.

I am writing these as a step by step instruction sheet - I have added some commentary throughout, noted by a *

Step 1: Consolidate Files

Divide the kit into three separate folders titled:

1) Papers

2) Elements

3)Designer_KitName_Alpha (For alphabet files)

*If the kit comes with other stuff that doesn't fit these categories, create folders for each or one called "More" or "Other" the main reason I use these names is that all of my kits are filed the same way, which makes it much easier to find what I need.

Step 2: File Papers and Elements

Find the place you plan to store your kit. Create a folder called "Designer Name", and inside that folder create a folder called "Kit Name". Put the Paper and Elements folders in the kit folder.

You should have a path that looks like this

Designer Name --> Kit Name -->Paper/Elements

*I download all of my kits to one folder and they stay there until I am ready to put them away. This folder is in a separate location then the one I keep everything in.

Step 3: File Alpha

Go back to the place you store your kits, this time instead of creating a folder called "Designer" create once called "_Alphabets" and place the Designer_KitName_Alpha folder inside.

**Note I organize my alphabets by color, so I place the folder in the correct color folder too.

Want to be insane like me? Follow these additional steps!

Step 1a: (Prior to step 1) Find the Preview

*If you had multiple downloads for the same kit, chances are you have multiple copies of the preview (and TOU file). Delete the duplicates and place you preview file in a folder called "Kits to File" These files may not be large in size, but if you have 100 kits with 3 downloads/kit that means you have 3 copies of each preview, 200 more then you need and that is a lot of space!

Step 5: List Kit

Create an Excel spreadsheet with the following columns and fill in the rows for the kit you just filed away:

Designer - The name of the designer, this should match the name you put on the folder in Step 2

Abbreviation - This is optional, I find that some designers have really long names. This bugs me on my Alpha folders, so I often use an abbreviation (many designers with long names have them already). Ex. A Work in Progress = AWP

Kit Name - The name of the kit, this should also match what you used in step 2.

Alpha - Does the kit have an alpha with it? If so, put an x in this column

Step 6: File Preview

Much like filing the kit, start by creating a folder called "Previews" inside this folder create another folder called "Designer Name" and inside that folder put the preview file that you have in "Kits to File"

*Note: I use the "Kits to File" folder because I don't put each kit away immediately. I also don't move the preview out of this folder until I have it accounted for in my spreadsheet. You may find this an unnecessary step.

*I also want to create and print contact sheets of the previews. I just haven't decided the best way to do this yet as I add to each folder on a regular basis!

I also have a few additional columns in my spreadsheet that may help you, but are not as important and the ones above (in my mind).

Add On: I put an x in this folder if the kit is an add on to another designers work. I actually file the Add On Kit in the folder of the designer who made the original kit so I have easy access to it if I am designing with that kit. I simply name the folder of the Add On "Kit Name Add On by Designer"

Quick Page: If the kit has a quick page that I downloaded, I note this with an x. I file the QP's in the same way I file Paper and Elements in a folder called Quick Pages.

Please, let me know if you have any questions!! Good luck organizing your Scrapping Stuff!