1, 2, 3... Scrap!

Labor Day is just around the corner. That means fall, cooler weather, and scrapbooking! To be fair, just about everything means scrapbooking to me, but I mean organized scrapbooking with other people. Here is my plan for productive scrapping:

Pictures! I typically work photos-first or story-first, but to me scrapbooks ain't nothin' without the pics. So it's time to get organized. First, I'm going to move the unscrapped photos from Deuce's first year and sort them into my file box. I'm satisfied that I've scrapped every event from the chronological collection, and I also want to free up the binder they're in. Then I'm going to upload and order all the event photos from last year that got lost in the mix, including those from Facebook, other people's cameras, and cell phone pics (cell pics I might just print at home). I put those into my 3-up photo binders. Any Simple Scrapbookers or Stacy Julian fans will recognize this as a loose interpretation of Stacy's Library of Memories (I have her book Photo Freedom and lurve it).

Stuff! I also love to keep the scrap in scrapbooking, but I tend to lose the scraps along the way... I found a nice box to keep scraps in, so I need to move some things from the junk pile on the desk to there. That box can also serve as inspiration when I'm in need.

Projects! Some scraps are for specific albums, for example, our California trip/BIL & SIL's wedding, and my garden notebook. I have file pockets with little tags to collect scraps, photos, layout ideas, paper, journaling and embellishments together until I get everything I want (and time to work). I need to look through my product to see if I have all I need to complete a project or should be looking for something specific.

Products! I feel pretty confident that I have most of the products I need to make the pages I want to make. But I might take some time to reset some of my organization from winter.

Ideas! My idea book has paper with sketches messily tossed in it (like, not even clipped into the binder), so I need to sort that out some. I would also like to sketch some of my fav pages to try and use some of my designs again.

Stories! My journalling books are all missing. I'm sure they're around here somewhere... the idea to keep journalling notebooks around at all times to capture thoughts an moments has not worked for me since about a year ago when implemented. Need to research online for a better solution.

Computer! I need to pick either Windows Photo Gallery or Picasa to store and tag my pictures because I'm lost. I know I organized some things in one place and other things elsewhere. I definitely like Picasa for editing, but I think I'm staying w/ Photo Gallery. I like their tags better. That said, I need to back this shiznit up. I'm screwed if this computer goes up in flames.

Destash! I'm hosting a swap in 2 weeks, so I need to go through my piles to see what I can swap with other people. I have a stack of swap stuff from when I cleaned the office - 8 months ago!! It's time to get rid of it.

In the meantime, I'm scraplifting this. No sense doing all this organization for nothing!

M is for My other hobbies

I crochet (or knit, now) almost every day, late at night when we're unwinding in front of the TV. But fiber stuff isn't my first or only hobby.

My first hobby is baking. This is Deuce's birthday cake. It's two layers of chocolate cake with white frosting and decorated with mini, plain and peanut butter M&Ms. I got the idea from Parents magazine. It took just as much time to decorate as it did to bake and frost!

I got my love of baking from my dear Grandma Anne. She has "got it." She times cookies by when they smell done. She measures with a scoop. Like, not a measuring cup. She just knows how to bake, and though I'm not as skilled as her, I do love it.

My favorite hobby is scrapbooking. I started scrapbooking before I was married, just to spend time with friends and because I thought it was fun. Now that Deuce is on the scene, I do a LOT of scrapbooking.

This is his second year, what I was able to finish before his party:

(that's an American Crafts D-ring binder, which I love for any project that isn't ever really "done")

Scrapbooking is the way I record my feelings and emotions, express my love for my family, create something I can share, exercise my mind... and let's face it, it's how I spend a lot of money. DeuceDad actually doesn't mind though because I've had this hobby for about 5 years now, longer than I've ever held down a single job, so it's not a waste.

I am so fortunate for all the nap-time I spend on these hobbies. So when I'm not blogging, you know what I'm doing!

Deuce is Two

Deuce turned 2 today! We had a busy morning and he's now napping. Time for me to frantically do chores, bake a cake, prepare dinner and wrap his gifts! I don't think he really understands what it means that people keep saying Happy Birthday to him, but it's fun anyway.

I'm doing a good job keeping my emotions in check today. I have had some moments when I wonder how it's possible that he is so tall/smart/independent when 2 years ago today he was brand new and needed his mom and dad for everything. But I've spend the better part of the last year with him so I don't feel like I missed out.

I did a lot of scrapbooking - although I can't say I'm finished with his second year. I have the book divided into sections (events, family, everyday) with coordinating section pages:



I am pretty proud of some of my pages:



The first page has a little dedication.



It reads

Dear Robbie,

As I write this, you are about to turn two. I'm teaching you to say "two" and hold up your two fingers so that you can tell people how old you are. I don't know why this is so fascinating to me, but it is. Probably for the same reason everything you do is amazing to me - you're a fun guy! You're growing up fast and your dad and I get to be there as you become a toddler, and some day a man.

This book is really for me to save my favorite photos and have a place ot write down the stories of your childhood and our adventures as a family. I know I will always want to remember how it felt to help you learn and grow, how you make me smile, even our small frustrations and challenges because they make the happy moments sweeter.

I hope someday you enjoy looking at this book as much as I've enjoyed making it. But if you don't take after me and you're not a sentimental guy, then just know how much happiness you've brought to our family, and in these pages are some of the ways you did that.

My love forever,
Mom

Round up

Katie the Scrapbook Lady does an end of the month roundup that works perfectly with my end of May have to get things done push. It's just some things of interest about the blogger, plus some blog/computer/office maintenance.

• What books and/or magazines did I read this month?
• The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns
  What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?
• Quantum of Solace, and the season premiere of Jon & Kate Plus 8 *hangs head in shame*
  What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?
• Saw BIL and SIL at DeuceDad's parents house. Anniversary Party!
  What gifts did I give and/or receive?
• I got craft supplies and flowers for Mother's Day, and I gave the anniversary album (need to snap some pics of that)
  What special or unusual purchases did I make?
• LOTS of food and party supplies, a firepit for the backyard
  What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
• I did squats and literally could barely walk for 3 days
  What were my accomplishments this month?
• I made my long awaited living room curtains!
  What were my disappointments this month?
• The curtains are a leetle too narrow
• Anything else noteworthy to include?
• Finishing projects left and right!

Katie the Scrapbook Lady also has a to-do list which I will honestly say I am up to date uploading pics and that I don't plan to back up files (but she has a computer business, so it's important to her). I will clear off my scrapping space though b/c I have 112 pictures on their way here and lots of scrapping to do before Deuce's birthday party!

Year 1 Scrapbook

Deuce's first year scrapbook is in the binder! All 92 pages...


There are two odd pages that I need to fill due to 2-page LOs that offset some of the single page LOs. I'm sure I'll think of something, with the hundreds of photos I have left. I need to be much more judicious when ordering photos in future.

Anyhow, a few people have seen the finished product and I think it's a success. So many memories went into each page. Some have wordy stories, but some tell the story all by themselves.

Monday Monday

Off to a good start on the Creativity Project. I made a new recipe for dinner - Asian short ribs from Real Simple. I had never cooked that piece of meat before. It was a hit all the way around the table!

Didn't sew yesterday because BFFs normally super neat and clean house was all pushed into her living room for painting. I need to just bite the bullet, mop my kitchen floor, and sew those curtains here.

Two scrapbook pages - and when I ran out of juice I just stopped. Why push it? Got inspiration from Pencil Lines.

And last but not least, Deuce and I did an "in like a lion, out like a lamb" project. I printed out a lion and a lamb, he colored them, and then glued cotton balls to the lamb and yarn to the lion's mane and tail - so cute!

Today's challenge is to think of a creative way to get Deuce to behave at the library while I check out books. Strap him into the stroller? Worth a try.

Scrapbooking for the dedication impaired

I am closing in on the end of Deuce's first year scrapbook. He is 20 months old. By all accounts, this is not that bad. Scrapbookers either keep on top of their photos or fall hopelessly behind. I mean, I'm hopelessly behind, but the end of a huge milestone is in sight.

Remaining I have:

1. Thompson Park Zoo
2. Finding Feet
3. Photo shoot
4. Maxwell (ILs dog)
5. Easter
6. Packing to move
7. Hop & Pop (a fave toy)
8. Finish Christmas
9. Watching baseball with Grandpa Jeff
10. Playing with Grandpa Bob
11. Learning to stand
12. Playing music
13. Bubbles
14. Learning to walk
15. Claude Haiku
16. Me & Cousin Joey

I would like to do 4 of these topics per day and be done by the end of the week. That will never happen. I'm holding myself to an impossibly high standard of page quality and have been investing an hour per page minimum. I seems like if I don't struggle with design or journalling it's narrowing down photos or choosing paper. And I can NEVER find the right embellishments.

I just feel like if I can get over this hump I can get into the second year and be foot loose and fancy free. Until May, when I'll burn through countless trimmer blades trying and failing to finish the book before his birthday.

So Yummy

Nope, not a food post. I'm done with my scrap room reorganize and I can see all my tools and products. So Yummy.

Here's everything in mountainous piles:

And the after shot:

So happy!

In the midst of scrap room hell

I haven't scrapped in a week, and I just zoned out to the point that I couldn't hear Deuce pulling stuff out of the over-the-door shoe holder I use to store stamps/punches etc. I'm surfing for inspiration, adding blogs to my feed reader and thinking I should update the blog roll on this page.

What woke me from this reverie? A writing style I just had to share. Check out Kelli Crowe's blog. The way she uses line breaks is so great! It's like haiku-blogging. I think she might use line breaks in place of commas. Anyhow, she's not saying anything so different from what I or any other blogger says about their family/hobby/daily life. It just looks different.

Journalling has always been the most difficult part of scrapbooking for me. To that point, I've never been able to keep up a journal, even as an exercise to improve my scrapbooking. This blog is by far the most writing I've done for enjoyment. I like to use photos, layout and embellishments to tell the story as best as possible. Journal prompts and clever titles are my friends.

I think this differently-punctuated writing style might elevate my scrapbook journalling. Instead of trying to dream up flowery words and phrases, I can still tell my stories my way. And just put them on paper differently so that a word on a line jumps out at and tells it's own story.

What a find!

Scrapbooking cures what ails

I have nothing but frustration and grumpiness in my heart today, so I'd like to share some things I've been working on that make me happy. Scrapbooking.

I'm still working on Deuce's first year, but I'm really organized and doing a page every day. I have literally scrapped once since we moved because my space is so disorganized. I'm taking a class to get my shit together and it's really helping me. It's "Get Organized and Be Inspired" from Big Picture Scrapbooking.

The class is actually one of the reasons I'm grouchy. I can't really do any serious scrapbook room remodelling because... oh I'm not working. It just makes me frustrated that my lack of employment is keeping me from doing something I want to do.


But I'm making progress toward a more organized and creative environment, and doing pages too. I forgot how much I love scrapbooking. So on to some pages from this weekend.

This is Deuce's first time feeling grass (April 2008). Awesome day.


Collage of Deuce teething (and drooling). The puzzle pieces are from Cricut's My Community cartridge.

Here's a page with my dad. He is a champion tickler and has no mercy even on the young. Deuce managed to escape, as you can see. I'm really proud of this page - using the circle motif on the patterned paper on the on a top layer highlighting Robbie crawling away. Not too shabby.

This page is busy. I cropped the photos close before I printed them, but it would have been easier to cut the photos down so that the page wasn't overrun with patterns and colors.

Here's a fav page - I was going to frame that 5x7, but the page came together so I used it. This is also from April, 2008.

So that's what I've been up to lately! I have to shovel the driveway today (boo!) but then back to it!

2009_Resolutions_Goals.doc

In the files I transfered from old computer, there are 2006-, 2007-, 2008- and now 2009_Resolutions_Goals.doc. Not only do I love to resolve, but I love to keep Word documents for posterity. Plus then I don't have to remember where the little square checkbox we like to use is (Wingdings, who can remember that?).

There is a long list, but the ones that pertain here are:

• Deuce related – play with other kids at least 1/week, less than 2 hours TV/day, outside time when over 30 degrees, crafts 2/week
• Buy ZERO scrapbooking supplies until after class ends
• Finish ALL crocheting projects before starting new ones

Now is when I ask myself why I set good sounding and impossible goals. The scrapbooking class helps you understand your motivations for scrapbooking, organize your space to help fulfill those goals, and set up "filters" (don't know what that means yet) to help keep the space organized. It involves designing a lot of storage which I would like to embellish with similar papers and things. I don't have enough of what I want to use, which means... shopping! AND I bought a new winter coat on after-Christmas clearance and I don't have any hat/gloves/scarf to coordinate, but I DO have yarn that would look great... I need to reevaluate.

Now with pictures!

I updated "Eaten Alive by the Alphabet" to include pictures. Seems all my PC needed was a good night's sleep (turned off) and the camera and printer seem to be happy again.

Eaten alive by the alphabet

Can I just start off with a big "argh"? I took some pictures to accompany
this post, and my camera just stubbornly says "one moment" when trying to
connect to my PC. That means I can't download any pictures.
Argh! Please do me the favor of imagining photos in your mind. Thank
you.

Deuce's alphabet scrapbook is off to a challenged start. The instructions that came with the cover set suggest doing one page per letter with one photo and journalling. I would envision the final product being titled "The ABCs of Deuce" or similar. I decided to do two pages per letter with lots of things that start with each letter so that we could read the book together now.

I started off just making the "A" page. (It is missing airplane, btw). Fun, kind of time consuming.



I thought I could streamline the process by die-cutting all the letters, making all the page backgrounds, and then adding the embellishments as I found/made them. This went well.



I was thinking to myself that I should have used a lighter background and dark letters to make the letters easier to read. But, I decided it would have to do because I didn't want to scrape all the letters off and risk ruining the pages. Until I remembered I wanted two pages per letter... So off the letters came. I added a white page in between each colored page and mounted the letters on the white page.




This whole process has been 3 naptimes (less laundry and blog-reading time). But the tedious part is done and now on to die cutting animals!

Tackled: Clutter and Over the Scrapbooking Hurdle

My tackles so far this week are minor as far as actual housework goes, but huge mentally. First was the kitchen. See how my counter tops are free and clear of clutter?

That's because it's all over here.

Poof! Gone! And all in it's proper places! This is a constant problem for me. I just toss things in the room they belong in (if that) and move on. Definitely a habit I have to break while at home.

Next, and more in the "mental tackle" category, is I started Deuce's ABC book! First, I didn't have a place to work. My future craft room is what it is. The future craft room. So this is a card table with the start of this really cute book from Creative Memories (product seems to have been discontinued, sorry). Can't wait to share when it's all done.

Deuce's new dudes

The daycare visit went swimmingly today, which means Deuce officially has new dudes!

They break the ages up differently than I've seen elsewhere. Typically babies are in a NB-2YO or NB-1YO/walking room. This is a crawling-18MO room. Interesting. He's going to be the youngest one in there, so I worry about him from that standpoint, but the younguns usually get a little extra attention (in our experience) so that will work in his favor.

Oh, and did I mention I'm going to miss him?

So everything is a go for me starting work next Monday. I'm excited, nervous, the whole nine, probably the same as anyone would feel in this situation.

I got some cool new scrapbooking stuff today - The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Word. Journaling is so tough for me, and a friend said this will help. I bought it with a 55 (% off coupon) at AC Moore. Have you ever even heard of such a thing?! Unprecidented. I wish I had gotten to frame it. I have a coupon problem.

Argh!

I missed the phone call! The place DeuceDad's been interviewing with called this afternoon and I didn't get home in time to give him the message.

I left the house this morning so that I wouldn't just sit around and obsess. It worked, but now I'm super obsessed! We would know by now if I had stayed home! Argh!

DeuceDad thinks this is the height of humor.

I am drinking beer.

Today was productive otherwise, and I checked tons of great books out of the library, including Simple Scrapbooks Scrapbooking Made Easy. One of the minds behind this is Stacy Julian (Altogether Too Happy link on my side bar). I only got as far as page 3 before I had to run upstairs and scraplift a page. I think this is going to be a gold mine.

Well, we'll know tomorrow. Pray for us, please!

50th Post!

I'm not a playa I just post a lot.

I can't believe how much has happened since blog inception - really just ridiculous!

The interview went really well yesterday. I would love to call that job my own and the interviewers were software developers with social skills. Love it.

Deuce has been fuss-ay the last couple of days. He's really out of his routine, plus top teeth are imminent. It's tough being a baby.

I have scrapbooking day with the girls this afternoon. Deuce is coming with me while DeuceDad finishes up at work and then they're going to Deuce's first outdoor show. Very cool guy stuff.

I don't have any plans for next week, so I think it's going to be "get Deuce back in a routine" week. Not sure what that's going to involve, but he's used to more structure (and more babies) than he got last week. I might drop in on a neighbor (eek!) that I know stays home with her baby. And we're going to go to a LLL meeting too. I've heard that it's a little cult-ish, but I'll give it a shot. Beyond that, I have no idea how he's doing to meet other babies. (Suggestions welcome!)

So there - how's that for a 50th post? My life is crazy and I have no idea how to parent my kid. That about sums it up!

Wordy Wednesday

I saw this cool idea for Wordless Wednesday on SarcasticMom's and MarketingMomma's sites. I wanted to try it, but I have lots of stuff to talk about today - hence Wordy Wednesday.

In Deuce news:
He's awesome

In DeuceDad news:
Syracuse won their first NIT game last night - DeuceDad and FIL went to the game, and also bought Deuce a really cute hat. Good times.

In scrapbooking news:
No sign of the Cricut yet. Just as well since I won't be able to use it until next week.

In interview news:
***UPDATE*** Tuesday at 1PM!!

In crochet news:
I'm burning through all the green squares for the 63 crochet stitches afghan. I might actually finish my first crochet project some day!
I'm also doing an amigurumi swap! I don't know if my swap buddy reads this, so I'll post pics when it's received. Should be a quick fun swap.

In work news:
F this F-ing F. F.

In procrastination news:
It's March Madness and bracket time!! I love filling out brackets, as I'm exposed to just enough college basketball to be considered dangerous. Last year I had Texas (hook'em horns!) win it all, and they went out in the first round. The year before that I kicked DeuceDad's butt. So I'm filling out my bracket for our work pool on the ride to work today and narrating my decision process, DeuceDad filling in important decision making info for me. The conversation sounded freakishly like SportsGal's bracket discussion. I'll save time and just say that she and I think a lot alike. OJ Mayo? I love OJ! And Mayo! DWade v. Ashley Judd, hmm let's see, one is funny, the other is DeuceDad's fantasy woman... Marquette it is!

I think that's enough for today, time to justify my existance here in miseryland.

Letters and Titles and Die Cuts, Oh My!

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!

I ordered a Cricut machine!!!

I chose this slightly haloed image b/c the Cricut machine is my holy grail of scrapbooking. Yes, there is a larger and more expensive model, but I'm not a teacher, so I have no use for 12"x24" die cuts. 5.5"x11.5" will serve me just nicely thank you.

I am SO HAPPY!

*updated: DeuceDad thought this section made it sound like I tricked him into buying my something I wanted. Quite the opposite - I knew he's encouraging me to spend money to make me feel happy.*

DeuceDad and I talked last night about my general malaise (General Malaise!), and now today I'm spending $200 on scrapbooking b/c he knows it makes me happy.

Now, the waiting... I saved $10 by having it sent to the store, but I have to wait 3-5 days longer than if it was shipped to the house. That's okay though, because I have to clean the office to make a space for it and a space to work. Maybe I should take a vacation day and do that! Maybe I'm insane!

So there's some excitement for ya - yay scrapbooking!

Gimme Gimme Gimme

The scrapbook swap was a great success! I got rid of some of my scrapbook paper, but even 4 women hungry for fresh stuff couldn't make a dent. More importantly I got enough Christmas paper and other new paper to make about a dozen pages. Rock!

I think fun was had by all, and am considering making it a yearly thing.

I have a major case of the gimme's right now. I want to get new craft stuff and not necessarily do any actually crafting. I have a whole list of scrapbooking and crocheting projects to do, but shopping just seems like more fun.

Deuce also has the gimme's. He is now refusing formula. He will eat food and drink water, but it's b-milk or nothing, milk-wise. Not that I mind. It's like being picked first for the team. He's just the cutest thing - he's made up his baby mind and will accept no substitute for b-milk.

So this weekend we have to work on the sippy cup to make sure he's getting enough fluids during the day, clean house, and I will make time to craft come h-e-double-hockeysticks or high water (we have high water, so there is actually a chance hell makes an appearance).