Sunday, April 30, 2017

05/01/17 - MIM #87

It's Monday again...ugh!
But today's Monday is "Make It Monday", yay!




Today I am bringing you sketch #87 from the "The Memory Nest" blog:




"Forest Falls"
 Journaling: "Enjoyed nature and quality time with the hubby this morning!
 A beautiful place to get in some exercise!
03.26.17"




The layout called for 3 photos but I was able to fit 7 thanks to a photo collage app
::fist pump::!

I also DID use a Project Life card...
1, cut apart, used in 2 places on my layout:
"Today" and the bottom of that same card was used for my journaling area.

I then scattered stickers to mimic the "boxes" scattered throughout the sketch.
BTW that BG paper is ANCIENT and the "explore" sticker is just a bit more recent than "ancient" but barely!

Can't wait to see what you create!
You have until May 31st to submit your creation.


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Also included in the following May SB.com Challenges:

>Hoarders
>Sticker

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

04/25/17 - March "Ugly Paper" Challenge

Hi, it's "Ugly Paper" time again!
 
 
As I mentioned in a prior post, I recently lost my mojo...though I think it may be back now ::crosses fingers::.
Because of my loss of mojo I did not get my "March Ugly Paper" Challenge layout done in March.
I was able to complete it in April though and I am sharing it w/ you today.
 
 
First a reminder of the rules (you can skip this part if you already know them):
  
1. After signing up, the host gives your name and address to another participant
2. The other participant sends you 2 "ugly" papers and at least one ugly embellishment
3. You MUST use both papers; the embellishment(s) is optional
4. You are allowed to use other items as well, as long as the 2 "ugly" papers are included in the layout
5. You are allowed to alter the papers and, if used, the embellishment(s) but they must still be recognizable
 
 
 
 
 March "Uglies" 
 
 
 
"A Run Through Redlands" 
Journaling -

Top:
"After a 3+ yr break from running, Drs Orders, David ran a 5k and ranked
250th out of 1,243 participants! Unfortunately I was in the car trying to stay warm
and didn't get back in time to take a photo of him crossing the Finish Line; DOH!

Bottom:
"Overall Ranking: 250th out of 1,243
Male 35-39: 10th of 30
All Male: 172nd out of 542
Average Pace: 9:21
Race Completed in: 28:57.71"

(All the "stats" info is in the photo collage at the bottom as well but it's difficult to read)


The ugly papers are the BG paper and the Red Shaped paper at the bottom which I used half of in order to make a pocket to hold my husband's Runner's Bib.
I also used the "ugly" embellishment which is the "pumpkin" that I am pretending is an "orange" to fit the theme of my layout!



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Also including in the following April Challenges:

>Not to be Squared:
I used shaped paper to make a pocket for my husbands "Runner's Bib"

>Hoarders:
Because of the PL card
*NO TWIST*

>Sports and Play
Running is a Sport
*NO TWIST*

Monday, April 17, 2017

04/17/17 - "Twinkies"

Good Morning (afternoon/evening...whenever)!
Hope all is well w/ you and yours!
I just finished a Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks before I started writing this post so that's why I'm in a good mood... LOL
(YUMMY!)
 
Speaking of "Yummy"...
The layout I'm sharing today includes a yummy treat!
 
 
"Twinkies"
 
Journaling:  "What's better than Ice Cream?
Ice Cream w/ Twinkie Pieces.
4.8.17"
 
 
For more details on this delectable dessert click on this link; the link to my Instagram post that talks about it:
 
Hope you have a great (and delicious) day!


BTW - In case you missed it, my previous post is all about my 2017 Reading Challenge progress....
check it out: Reading Challenge
 
 
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For the following SB.com April Challenges:
 
> Foodie
*INCLUDES TWIST* of using pastel colors

>Music
Category = Lyrics
I used the lyrics "...better than ice cream" from the song Ice Cream by Sarah Maclachlan
*NO TWIST*

>Hoarders
Everything on here is a hoarded item... EVERYTHING
*NO TWIST*

>Scrap w/ Your Scraps
1 Scrap
- The rainbow PP piece behind the larger photo
*NO TWIST*

>Sticker
I used 12
- Alphas (8)
- Ice Cream(s) (2)
- Words (2)
*NO TWIST*
 
 
 
 

Saturday, April 15, 2017

04/15/17 - Reading Challenge Update

Previously I mentioned that I have challenged myself to read 12 books in 2017.
I figure 1 book a month is do-able, despite the fact that last year I only managed to read 7.

I am here to share w/ you my progress.

For those of you who follow me on Instagram you already know most of this.
But I am including 1 more book and a bit more info about the others I already mentioned on IG, including  brief summaries from and links to Amazon or GoodReads , so you may want to read this post anyway.


Books I've Read (in the order I read them):


1. (Previously Shared on a past Blog Post):
"Detour From Normal"

Despite access to the greatest healthcare in the world, U.S citizens are not immune to medical horror stories. Such was the experience of Ken Dickson, a beloved husband and father and respected engineer, with no history of mental illness. What should have been an ordinary surgical procedure changed that, propelling him into a high security psychiatric ward where psychiatrists branded him a danger to himself and others.

Read More:  Detour From Normal
 
 


2. "She Sins at Midnight"

Lila Montgomery, thirty-two-year-old Hollywood assistant extraordinaire, has a secret. On the outside, she’s a hard-working dedicated employee, a good friend, and a loving daughter. But above all else, she’s been raised to be a lady, which of course is why she’s determined to conceal her secret life. If her straight-laced friends and family back home ever discover that she is really the smashing new author of a steamy romance novel, their disapproval would shame her forever!

Read More:  She Sins at Midnight



 
3. "Rags to Bitches"
The boy named Most Likely to Succeed back in high school? That would be handsome, wealthy Gabe Moreau. Everyone assumed Gabe’s devotion to girlfriend Dena Devlin was mere puppy love, a rebellious stroll on the wrong side of the tracks. Dena was, after all, the janitor’s daughter. Unfortunately, even a love as strong as theirs couldn’t withstand Gabe’s act of betrayal.

Read More: Rags to Bitches



 
4. "Only the Truth"
Dan Cooper has never been the perfect husband to Lisa. He travels for work and plays the carefree bachelor when he can. But now, on a solo business trip, in a remote coastal hotel, he’s surprised to find Lisa in his bathroom. She’s dead.

Read More:  Only The Truth



 
5. "The Lovely Bones"

"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on eath continue without her - her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling

Read More:  The Lovely Bones



 
6. "Waiting for Ethan"
When Gina Rossi was in junior high, her best friend’s psychic grandmother got everything right—from predicting that Gina would break her arm and travel to Italy, all the way to leading police to a missing neighborhood child. The one time Gina didn’t listen to her, she almost got herself killed. So when she says that Gina will marry a man named Ethan—but she will have to wait for him—Gina believes her, and waits…

Read More:  Waiting for Ethan



 
7. 'Openly Straight"
Rafe is a normal teenager from Boulder, Colorado. He plays soccer. He's won skiing prizes.
He likes to write.
And, oh yeah, he's gay. He's been out since 8th grade, and he isn't teased, and he goes to other high schools and talks about tolerance and stuff. And while that's important, all Rafe really wants is to just be a regular guy. Not that GAY guy. To have it be a part of who he is, but not the headline, every single time.
So when he transfers to an all-boys' boarding school in New England, he decides to keep his sexuality a secret --

Read More:  Openly Straight
**This one was my fave and there is a sequel I'm hoping to read! **
 
 
 
 
 
In order of the way I liked them:
1. Openly Straight
2. The Lovely Bones
3. Waiting for Ethan
4. Only The Truth
5. From Rags to Bitches
6. She Sins at Midnight
7. Detour From Normal
I'm currently on book number 8, which I will talk about on another blog post.
8 out of 12 and it's only April... I'm definitely hitting my goal this year (hopefully I didn't just jinx myself)!!!

Hope your reading goals are coming along!
If you happen to read any of the books I listed here, please let me know!!!


Thursday, April 13, 2017

04/13/17 - #TBT "Ice Cold"

Hello,
Happy "Throw Back Thursday"!
 
As I try to get my mojo back I have been cleaning up my scrappy related stuff, including my blog, and found a post I never published!
This post was written back in January for a photo I took in November!
 
I know it's late but the layout I created is one of my most recent favorites, even now 3 months later.
 
................................................................................................................
 
 
 
 
"Ice Cold" 
Journaling (a bit blurry due to the bulky tassle above it):
"This is a Salted Caramel ice cream sandwich with 2 different cookies: Snickerdoodle and Chocolate Chip. Good....soooo....good!
The best Salted Caramel ice cream I've ever had!
From "A La Minute Ice Cream" in Downtown Redlands."
 
 
 
Fun Fact:
I never in a million years would have purchased that Crate Paper tassle on it's own, but since it came in my January ScrapbookCircle.com Kit I went ahead and used it and .... I absolutely love the way it looks on my layout!
Now I want more!


Another Fun Fact: This layout won me a $10 GC to Scrapbook.com
 
 
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Included in the following January SB.com Challenges:
 
>Food Challenge
*INCLUDES TWIST* of using the theme of "New" ...
This is the first time I ever tried an Ice Cream Sandwich from "A La Minute" ice cream.

>Scrap w/ Your Scraps
3 scraps:
- B&W PP
- "Nov" card
- red & white PP
*NO TWIST*

>Stickers
9 Stickers
- Alphas (3)
- gold hearts (5)
- "sweet"
*INCLUDES TWIST* of stickers w/ bling - the gold hearts
 

Sunday, April 9, 2017

04/10/17 - MIM Sketch #86

 
Hey, there... Hi, There!
Sorry I haven't been around but I have been majorly lacking mojo lately.
The last layout I created was such a chore... not because I don't like scrapbooking, cuz you totally know I do, but because the creativity was...just...not...flowing! #BOOO
But today's layout is a different story.
Today's layout is one that came together fairly quickly and easily and... I love it!
 
First the sketch that inspired it!
 
MIM Sketch #86
 
And now my layout!
 
"Hello Weekend"
Journaling: "Tagged for a "Stop, Drop, and Selfie"
Just kickin' it in my favorite new sweater bought, on Wednesday
Night, for 50% off at the Gap Factory Store in Redlands.
And "no", I'm not wearing it too early; it is in fact, already the start of my
weekend...it's my Friday off, suckers!
04/07/17

My apologies for sharing  2 "selfie" layouts in a row but TBH... I like taking "selfies" and I gotta scrap whatever photos my creativity draws me to...so there you have it!

Where is your creativity drawing you?
Hopefully to join us in this challenge!
You have until April 30th to submit an entry; good luck!
(Link up here:  The Memory Nest)



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Also included in the following April SB.com Challenges:


>Music - Category #3 Artist
I was inspired by the artist "The Weeknd" though I spelled "weekend" the correct way, unlike the artist, LOL
*NO TWIST*

>Sticker
I used 6
-"hello"
- Black glasses
- heart
-"happy day"
- yellow glasses
- Banner under photo
*INCLUDES TWIST*: a 3-D Sticker
I used 2 (both pairs of glasses)

>Hoarders
2 items:
- Black Glasses
- PL Card
*NO TWIST*

>Scraps:
- "Wonderful"
- "Hello"
*NO TWIST*

Sunday, April 2, 2017

04/03/17 - MIM Sketch #85

Happy Make It Monday to you!

Today I'm bringing you:


MIM Sketch #85

"Happy Monday"
Journaling:
"Happy Monday...right?!
I mean, those two words: "happy" and "Monday" can go in a sentence together...I think...
though for me it's rare! I have my coffee, my hair is looking good again thanks to some much
needed time at the salon,  and I bought a cute comfty sweater for 50% off this weekend
so maybe, just maybe, this will be a Happy Monday! 03.20.17"
  
The sketch is actually entitled "Scallops" and I'm sure you can see why.
I didn't use any scallops on my layout though,  I just wasn't feeling the "scallop" vibe, but I still followed the sketch pretty closely:
  • 2 photos - one bigger one smaller
  • the photo placement
  • the crooked paper behind the photos
  • the embellishment(s) on the right hand side of the larger photo
  • the title at the bottom left.
Why am I pointing all this out?
Because I don't want you to be scared of/not try using a sketch because you can't copy it EXACTLY... just use pieces of it to inspire you!

Hope I've inspired you to play along; you have until April 30th to get your entry in at The Memory Nest !

03/27/23 Planning with Urban Journal Season Ink

My printer was having issues and I fixed it but during the interim I was not scrapping and lost my mojo ::le sigh:: But I've still been ...