My Crafty Life

Journaling Tip #7: Use Your Scraps

Here's a quick journaling tip for you this weekend.  Use your scraps of paper to make journaling boxes/cards.  I remember when I first started scrapbooking, I used to make journaling boxes for my layouts.  Now these are coming back "in style."  Many of the scrapbooking manufacturers are including journaling products in their current lines.  Why not make your own, though?  You know those pieces of paper and cardstock that you have left over from your layouts?  Cut them into rectangles, squares, circles, or whatever shapes you like.  Store them in a handy place, and take them out when you're doing a layout.  It's a great way to use up your scraps, save money, and be creative; and you'll have journaling cards that match your layouts perfectly.

The "I'm So Busy" Excuse

I apologize in advance for this rant, but I really just have to vent a little.  I am getting so tired of the "I'm so busy" excuse.  It seems that lately, hardly anyone seems to have the time to answer my emails, phone messages, cards, and questions.  And I'm not even going to get into the disappearing courtesy of thank-yous.   This happens with relatives, friends, and businesses, and it's really starting to tick me off!  And it's the same excuse over and over:  "Oh, I meant to, but I'm just super busy."  Well, guess what?  I'm super busy too, but I took the time to send you that email or card, or to call you and leave that message, or to buy your product and then have a question about it.

I hear the same kinds of excuses for why people don't scrapbook, or stamp, or take part in whatever hobby they want to pursue.  My answer might seem very simple, but it is the truth.  I make time for the things that are important to me.  I make time for the people who are important to me.  If others can't do the same, then I can't help but feel that they don't want to make time for me in their busy lives and schedules.  These are the people who are being moved to the bottom of my priorities list.  Like I said, I'm busy too, and I make time for the people and things that are important to me.  While my family and friends are still going to be important to me, they aren't going to be on my "to-do" list.

Life has to be a 2-way street, a give-and-take.  When you feel that others aren't giving (and I don't mean monetarily), then it's time to re-prioritize your life.  That's what I'm doing right now.  It's quite liberating and feels like a load has been lifted off my shoulders.  I think I'm really going to enjoy the rest of my summer.  I hope you do too.  Happy scrapping and stamping!

CHA Supershow

I just got back to my hotel room.  I had a great time at CHA, where  I did lots of fun make 'n' takes and saw  some cool demos too.  Most of the make 'n' takes were free, and many of those that weren't free were only a few dollars.  (One was $10 to make one scrapbook page!)  I also got some pretty good deals - especially at one booth where they were having some sort of Heidi Swapp clearance sale.

Best of all, I got to meet some of the "celebrities" I've seen on TV live and in person, including  Judi Watanabe (JudiKins) and Julianna Hudgins (Sizzix/Ellison).  The only disappointing thing was that there were so many vendors missing from the show.  Oh,yeah.  I wasn't too crazy about the $5.25 "Nathan's" hotdog and the $3.50 cup of not Starbuck's coffee.  I mean, if I had wanted to pay those prices, I coould have gone to Yankee Stadium!

All in all, it was a great show, and I had a blast.  We leave for home tomorrow, and we'll be stopping in South Carolina and Virginia Beach on the way.  I can't wait to scrapbook the pictures I've taken.  Until next week, happy crafting!

Guess where I'm going!

Not only are we going on a Road Trip, but I'm also going to the CHA Supershow!  I'll try to post while I'm away, since my husband is bringing his laptop.

Journaling Tip #6: Travel Journals

We're headed for a road trip down to Florida starting tomorrow, stopping at Virginia Beach and Savannah along the way.  I'm so excited; I've never been on a road trip before!  There will be so much to include in our scrapbooks when we get back that I decided to provide everyone with a travel journal to record our adventures as we experience them.  I took some $1 journals that I bought at Michael's and dressed them up, sectioning them into topics that we enjoy and will want to write about.  I also printed out travel journal sheets from Enchanted Learning, which I've used twice before.

When we get back next week, I'll try to take some pictures.  Until then, happy scrapping!

I'm so proud of her!

My little one (9 years old) has been growing out her hair for Locks of Love for months.  Locks of Love is an organization that collects hair donations to make wigs for children who have lost their hair due to medical conditions/treatments.  The vast majority (80%) of their donors are children.  Haley donated over 10 inches of her beautiful hair a few weeks ago.  I took photos and plan to do a fabulous scrapbook page about it.  I don't think I've ever been more proud of her.  And her short haircut looks absolutely adorable.

New Cards!

Aren't these stamps from Repeat Impressions adorable?  Blue and green is a favorite color combination of mine.  Enjoy!

 
 

Journaling Tip #5: Delegate the Journaling

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you just don't know what to write on your layout?  Of course you have!  We all have - especially when we find ourselves scrapbooking the same types of events over and over.  For example, birthdays and holidays can be quite a challenge to write about. 

The next time you're at a loss for words, enlist your family and friends to help you journal.  Ask them to write down what they remember about the event:  What was the funniest thing that happened?  Were they surprised about anything?  What was the most memorable thing anyone said or did?  You can either let them use their own handwriting (attaching it right to the layout), or print it out.

There are a few benefits to this type of journaling.  Not only will it take some of the pressure off you to come up with something new and fresh to say, but it will also allow your friends and family to have a more prominent role in creating your scrapbooks and preserving your memories.

Happy scrapping!

And the winner is...

Marci!!!  Congratulations!  Your layout was awesome!  I want to thank everyone who participated in my challenge and the other very cool, very groovy challenges from my fellow If It's Groovy DT members.  They were all fabulous, so I had to have my daughter randomly pick a name out of a bowl.  Thanks for just stopping by, even if you didn't get a chance to participate in my challenge. 

Please stop by If It's Groovy whenever you can to see all the groovy stuff we have coming your way.

Marci, please email me your mailing info. so I can send your prize out.  My email address is:  jeanettemg@yahoo.com.

Stay groovy!

If It's Groovy Online 80s Crop

And now for something completely different.  (Any Monty Python fans out there?)  Well, whether you're a child of the 60s, 70s, or 80s, or somewhere thereabouts, you've got to check out the If It's Groovy Online 80s Crop .  There will be loads of totally awesome challenges that will bring you back to those big-hair days of shoulder pads and plastic jewelry, Pac Man and Cabbage Patch Kids. 

For those of you following along in order, or if you'd just like to give this one a try, here is my challenge for you:

Use this color palette of 80s colors in a layout that is at least 8 x 8 in size.  You may use only the colors in this palette, along with white if you'd like.  Your photos don't have to be from the 80s, but  you get extra credit if they are.  At the end of the crop (June 14th), I will be choosing one lucky winner who will receive some very cool stamps from The Angel Company.  (I just happen to be a TAC demonstrator.)

Once you've finished your layout, post a comment and include a link to your blog or gallery.  If you don't have either, email your layout to me at jeanettemg@yahoo.com.  After you've completed my challenge, why don't you head on over to Jen's blog to check out her groovy challenge.  Happy scrapping!

Here is your palette - and my layout for a little inspiration.  Have fun!