{me}anderings . . .

reincardnated . . .

this sweet, charming little notebook was a quite painful experience for me.  it started off with totally bad karma.  jb needed a small project emphasizing rubons.  i immediately think card.  i really have a hard time thinking of anything else because i'm not project creaty.  trouble is, cards are very very difficult for me.  and rubons don't like me (although jb's are like butta, so i rarely screw them up).  i got this little framey thing going sans the title and had it sitting on a card with some patterned paper and ribbon.  took a shower break and when i got back with a fresh perspective, i knew it was just ugly.  sigh.  what to do and time for bed.  got the gman asleep, but i was still wide awake.  kept thinking about the darn card and its ugliness.  then eureka!!!  turn it into a mini!  great idea!  getting out of bed after dark to executive great idea was a very bad idea.  the little chip frame perfectly fit the new label chipboard mini album.  the title came to me and went on ever so smoothly.  i punched holes in my creation and stuck it to the cover.  adorable!  but there was a teeny tiny tear in the patterned paper down by the bottom hole.  i should have just let it go.  but i couldn't just let it go.  i got out the diamond glaze and put a tiny dab on the rip.  it was fine.  but then there was a tiny glue sheen by that bottom hole.  i should have let it go.  but i couldn't let it go.  surely an ever so light coating of diamond glaze wouldn't hurt.  dumb idea.  the whole thing buckled, of course (you have to adhere patterned paper with diamond glaze if you're going to put diamond glaze on the surface.  i hadn't planned on diamond glazing, so i'd just adhered the patterned paper with my tombow tape runner).  i did manage to pull it off once and add diamond glaze, but i got it on crooked and it just wasn't coming off a second time.  ARGHH!!!  ruined!  and it had been SO stinking cute.  i made another one with different patterned paper and a different rubon, but i didn't like it as well.  and then i stuck it on the cover backwards with the holes on the wrong side.  i was going to cover the back with patterned paper and repunch the holes, but that would have involved pulling out my antiquated making memories eyelet setter and i just wasn't going to go there after midnight.  sigh.  at least i was tired by that point and managed to fall asleep.  luckily jb kindly gave me her last birds and branches rubon sheet from her own private stash since they're currently sold out.  she saved me cardma.  here's the reincarnated card turned mini journal.  hope you like it.  it's really easy to make.  ha.

hot off the press . . .

JUST finished this one.  I love that magnolia blossom.  Reminds me of home.   It was my neice's impromptu bouquet at her wedding rehearsal.  Can you imagine just picking something so lush and beautiful off a handy nearby tree?  i love that about north florida.

the mini patterned papers and diecut are from the new victoria line.  also new crepe paper ribbon and mini bingo card.  i can't stop using the felt hearts.  and the rubon butterfly on the tag is another oldie but goodie.  i found those (and a little bee i'll share soon) on a sheet of birdie rubs and now i want to use them on everything.  they're so sweet and fun to color.

i do believe this is two posts in one day.  craziness!  ok.  back to work!  :D

cha week . . .

let the peeks begin!  this uses the new victoria patterned paper line and one of the new apothecary label stickers down at the bottom.  the rest is mostly vintagey goodness and a whole lotta glitter love. 

i have lots more to share with you between now and friday when i leave for cha.  layout-a-day count is at 17/14.  10 layouts, 1 mini, 2 home decor projects, and 4 cards and i have 2 or 3 more ideas in my head just waiting to get out.  so keep checking back.

jenni has a gorgeous new layout posted on her blog too.  and one from michelle guray.  aaaaaaaaaaaah.  and the gallery is up for reals too. 

happy monday all!  :D

 

busy busy busy . . .

sorry for the no bloggy for a couple days.  i've been consumed by scrapping.  going strong with the layout-a-day challenge.  10 layouts.  1 mini.  2 home decor items.  13/12.  yay me!  working on a card right now.  it's painful.  cards just don't come easy for me.  think i'll sleep on it.  maybe it will scrap itself overnight.

jenni says i can start posting some cha sneaks monday.  woohoo!  thought i'd post a little peek of the sneak tonight though.  there i go teasing again.  hee.  oh!  and check out jenni bowlin studio tonight!  the july kit gallery is going up any minute now.

and i just have to share a little happy.  look here.  the gman's a cover boy!  woohoo!!!  oh happy day!!!  :D

in the news . . .

my layout is up at the i inspire me blog.  i had SO much fun doing this.  you can head over there to read a little about my inspiration process and see some more eye candy.

stephanie's dh is flying out tomorrow.  she'll be home alone with the two little chicks for over a year.  send a little extra love her way won't you?

paula has a digital class starting july 21st at nyc scraps.  she's awesome.  if you've been wanting to learn a little digi-scrapping head on over.

debbie hodge has several online classes scheduled.  i thoroughly enjoyed participating in her page parts challenge.  it was a delightful experience.  i know any of her classes would be well worth your time.

cha sneak peeks are going up at lifetime moments.  can't wait to actually see this stuff irl.  fun fun fun.

planning on posting a few photography tips in the next day or two.  not that i'm a professional or anything.  but a friend has asked.  and i'm happy to share what i know.

layout a day count as of july 9th:  7 layouts, 2 projects, 1 mini.  10/9.  yay!

happy birthday page . . .

g scored points by bringing her fresh cut flowers.  very fresh.  ripped from the landscaping fresh . . .

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she was such a beautiful birthday girl. 

i really can't decide which photo is my favorite.

which one do you like best?

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a beautiful ballerina came to give the little girls a lesson in being princesses . . .

the boys were so impressed.  can't you tell?

 

there was pool time, snow cones, presents, and treats . . .

it was a really great time, wasn't it jack?  :D

invasion of the googley eyes . . .

we've been having lots of fun with google eyes this weekend.  can you tell?  i even wore google eye earrings to target yesterday.  and currently have a stray eye stuck to my butt.  i can hear it googling me when i walk.

 

he started off with google eye drawings.  moved on to google smileys using mommy's glitter stash.  the blue and green ones on the back row are eva and wall.e.  hee.  then he moved on to google snakes using mommy's ribbon stash.  we were watching the deadliest snakes in africa on the animal planet during the snakey phase.  after the target run he started making 3D creations with the sparkley pipe cleaners and pompoms we found in the dollar spot.  from left to right you see an angler fish, a snake, and a worm that's eaten a big pile of dirt.  i think the big red guy in the middle is his favorite. it's a salamander in he made with some glitter glue we scored at the dollar tree.

the angler fish up close and personal.  and an action shot of him reeling in a big catch on his new custom made fishing pole.  i guess you can tell i gave him a haircut.  it's a little shorter than i like, but i don't enjoy cutting it and he doesn't enjoy having it cut, so this way it'll be a while before we have to do it again.

layout a day count: july 6th/6 projects completed.  woohoo.  :D

happy fourth of july . . .

  hope your holiday was wonderful!

this little photo is my attempt at being festive.  i'm not much into decorating.  i just never seem to have the time or money for it.  or maybe it's how i grew up.  my mom didn't decorate either.  she just treasured her little gifts and mementos and kept them on display in our living spaces.  i still see these familiar bits of my childhood whenever we go home for a visit.  they're very comforting.  so this little grouping for me is the same thing.  hand blown glass i got when i lived in guatemala.  two members of my armadillo collection; one i got in honduras and the other a gift from a friend whose parents were missionaries to brazil.  a little flag g picked up at a fourth of july celebration last year.  candy canes still leftover from christmas.  and the sweet willow doll my sister gave me on our birthday this year.  lots of happy memories.

g went boating with his dad today so i've spent the day home alone creating.  i finished my layout for my guest spot on the i inspire me blog.  i think it's my most favorite layout ever.  can't show you the whole thing yet.  it'll go up on the 9th.  but i'll share a little peekie at the bottom.  also got a mini album made for jenni.  yes i said mini album.  haven't done one of those in years.  it was fun!  and i'm totally delighted with the results.  i'll put a little peekie of that down below too.  so let's see.  what's my tally?  4 layouts and a mini album.  oooooooooh.  still ahead of the layout a day game.  4 days.  5 projects.  and seriously.  i think i'll have to give myself bonus points for the mini.  it took a loooooooong time and made a really big mess.  you'd be shocked and amazed by this mess.  think i'll take a picture before i clean it up just to show you how bad it really is.

ok.  here are the peeks.  and one of g since i'm missing him.  i had to snap it yesterday.  i was just so amazed that his eyelashes were casting shadows on his face.  boys have all the luck, don't they?

 

peeks.  (click to enlarge)

snort. snort. snort.

this picture made me laugh so hard i snorted.  more than once.  chichi loves me.  yes she does.  she doesn't feel quite the same way about g.  she tolerates him as long as he leaves her alone.  and tries to maintain her dignity when he doesn't.  shame on me for catching her in such an awkward position and then broadcasting it all over the internet.  i'm sure she'd never forgive me if it weren't for her weakness for shaved turkey.

and this finishes my photo a day challenge for june.  whew.  i was getting kinda tired of that.  i mean i like taking pictures and all.  but the pressure of taking the camera out every single day was getting to me. 

now on to the layout (or card) a day challenge for july.  what.  am i crazy?  luckily i have a lot of scrappy pressure to perform on me right now so that should help.  i work best when the ax is ready to fall.  i'm actually already on layout number four and it's only july 2nd.  go me!  they're all for jenni bowlin studio's july kit.  so gorgeous.  can't share them just yet.  they'll go up on the 12th.  but i do have a couple i cranked out last weekend that i can share.  one's a lovey dovey sweet one about my baby growing up.  he doesn't want me to call him baby anymore.  imagine that.  i've tried to explain to him that he'll always be my baby, but he's just not getting the concept.  oh well.  i can't seem to quite calling him baby either.  haven't even tried.  the other is a funny one.  i let myself get caught in an awkward position the other day so i yelled at the gman to go get me a fresh roll of tp from the other bathroom.  after yelling for him for quite some time he finally parked his freight trains and came back to see what i wanted.  when he heard there was work involved he huffed, "why do i have to work for girls on the potty?"  my response, "why do i have to wipe your butt?"  he decided he'd better help a girl out after that comeback.

oh.  and i just have to mention.  i've seen jenni's new stuff.  it's stunning.

ok.  on to the scrappies . . .

detail shot (click to enlarge) . . .