Screaching halt and other happenings. . .

I know you all know how life goes sometimes - trucking right along and then there is the traffic jam and then you're back on your merry way again. Yep, it happens. Yep, there is nothing you can do about it most times. You just learn to tap the breaks and go with the flow.


That said, I managed to SCRAP! Oh yes! Scrapping is good for you! Digital is even better.

I managed to finish another 2-page layout. I even did it in a matter of days, as opposed to several months. Go me!

This time it is Andrew and Lance, pictures from August 2006 - when Lance broke his leg. I caught a moment shared between brothers. You just never know where the simplest delights will come from. Take a good look at Andrew's facial expressions in these pictures. Lance is obviously happy, but Andrew's facial expressions are priceless!

Papers: "Lime-ade" by Stacey Sansom

Fonts: Times and Zapfino

It finally came!

My copy of Digital Scrapbooking Magazine finally came yesterday. I was so excited! Too bad I felt absolutely crappy last night (allergies/sinuses) after being out all day in the pollen with the boys at their school's big fundraiser/carnival. I am really paying for the all day out doors today. I haven't even had a chance to sit down and look at it yet. Here I sit blogging about it instead. There is something wrong with this picture.

I actually scrapped something at scrapbook night with my friends. I didn't finish it, but I started something. I'll work on finishing it today if I feel better after eating some lunch. I have a 278 pictures to scrap from yesterday's activities.

When life gives me you limes, make Lime-ade

No need to pucker up with this paper pack, it is a delightful blend of greens and blues with a hinting of yellow. It is perfect for a variety of pictures. It is especially suitable for those that scrap pictures of boys, but the pack remains amazingly gender neutral. So when life serves you limes, get "Lime-ade" and scrap until your heart's content.


"Lime-ade" will be available exclusively at The Daily Scrap. Get it for a special introductory price of only $2.75.

"It's my birthday!" SALE

Next week is my birthday and I am celebrating by passing the savings on to all of you! Starting March 4, 2007 everything* of mine in the mall at The Daily Scrap will be marked down 31%. So don't miss out. Mark your calendars - this sale runs March 4-12, 2007!

* "Spinning Wheels" is already 34% off and "Faded Romance" is already 33% off
Both kits will remain that way during this sale.

I've been at it again!

I managed to personalize my personal blog this week. It was fun. I created the banner using my "Spinning Wheels" kit (with add-ons) that is available at The Daily Scrap. The add-ons are not available at TDS yet, but keep any eye out for them. The fonts used are: Chopin Script, Blue Highway D Type, Artistamp. It was a lot of fun to create. Go check it out!

Scrapping really is a release for me.

I needed to create an invitation to hand out at church tomorrow for the lady's night on Tuesday night. I have scrapped this one as well. I have used my "Faded Romance" kit again with some add-ons. I wanted it to be somewhat consistent with the initial flyer. The kit is available at The Daily Scrap. The add-ons are not yet available, but keep an eye for them.

Fonts used are : Amienne, Artistamp Medium.

These printed beautifully!

Is he trying to be a frog?

Yesterday I looked at the ad challenge found at The Daily Scrap for the month of February. I usually don't. I just don't have the desire to do many challenges. I'll do them if they catch my eye. I am not super interested in the attendance of posting bonuses either. I just like to scrap.


When I looked at this particular ad challenge, I immediately thought of pictures that I had taken just earlier in the day. It was perfect! See the posted inspiration. Obviously, I've taken some liberties to modify and adjust the inspiration a little bit. I've also done mine as a 2-page layout instead of just one.

This was a lot of fun!

The journaling reads: "I walked into the living room to find you, marker in hand, coloring all over yourself. I am not quite sure where you got the marker from. I don’t think anyone ever knows how an active and curious 2 year old finds these things, but you found a green marker nonetheless. Fortunately, you kept your green marker masterpiece to your body for the most part, but why oh why couldn’t you have just colored on that piece of paper that was laying right next to you on the couch? Paper is for artwork, not little boy’s bodies. I rushed you off to the bath to clean you up. You turned the bath water green!"

Fonts used: Adobe Garamond Pro

I even scrapped the layout with all of my own stuff. I have really found that it isn't easy to scrap my own stuff. I can make it, but I can't use it. Well that had to change. My personal challenge is to use the stuff that I design.

Striped paper: Stacey Sansom’s "Spinning Wheels"
Green Paper: Stacey Sansom’s "Simply Lush"
Bookplate: Stacey Sansom’s "Going in Cirlces"
Ribbon & Bow: Stacey Sansom’s "Faded Romance" (recolored)
Vellum: created on the spot

Inspiration: February 2007 Ad Challenge @ The Daily Scrap (Dove soap products magazine ad)

Is it ok to go against the grain? My scrapbook related ramblings. . .

I know that many believe that the standard in digital scrapbooking is 12x12 inches. I don't disagree, to some degree. I think it has just become accepted. That is ok, it is certainly easy to accept. That said, I know that not everyone scraps at 12x12. I do not scrap at 12x12. As a result of this, many of us smaller size scrappers are being forced to crop and/or reduce the sizes to fit our 8x8 canvases (or 10x10, 6x6, or whatever suits your fancy). I don't think that there is necessarily anything wrong with this persay, but it does add yet another step between me and my finished product. Let's just get it done, already!

As a designer, this got me to thinking. I know, thinking is a bad thing. Sometimes it just hurts when those lightbulbs explode. Sometimes, however, little flickers is all we get. Those aren't so bad. Maybe it was partly caused by the fact that I was trying to dig myself out of a designing slump. I wasn't selling. Well, as of what I know right now, I am still not selling. That is another story by itself. We'll see what Friday's payroll from The Daily Scrap yields. Again, that is another story we won't go into. I wasn't designing much either. I am a busy person. I was having problems (1) finding the motivation to keep turning out stuff that noone buys, (2) finding time, (3) finding the energy, and (4) coming up with fresh, fun ideas. All of those can lead to a major designing slump. Ever heard of "writer's block?" Well I had "designer's block!" Evidently I was suffering from "Scrapper's block," too.

Now the thought that came to me was "why not design at 8x8?" Yeah, why not? I mean, it is natural for me. I scrap that size anyway. So I decided to go back and pick a layout that I had started. I usually design as I scrap. At least that was the way it was before I started selling in a store and the pressure was on. The ideas were right there! I had to embellish and develop and extend what I already had. It was a start though. Sometimes getting started is the hardest step.

I had created my first 8x8 kit. It felt good. I didn't feel pressured to push the limits of my aged computer's dying abilities. I didn't feel pressured to have "enough" to fill a 12x12 page. I didn't feel preasure. That was the good part. So I did another one! Again, it just felt good.

Now I can't tell you if they have sold yet. That is the sad and disappointing part of the whole process. I wish that The Daily Scrap would offer us a 'real time" accounting of what is and is not selling. It would just be nice to know. It would be nice to know when ads are working and which ones are working. Of course, this is another story for another day, perhaps (or perhaps not at all).

So. . . I am a 2 size scrapbook kit designer. I design both 8x8 and 12x12. I know this doesn't solve the problem for those 8x10 and 8.5x11 scrappers out there, but I am trying to do what I can. I am just trying to define my place in the digital scrapbooking world.

On a different note. . .

I applied for another store. I applied to be a designer at One of a Kind Scrapz. It is not that I am not unhappy at The Daily Scrap. I am not UNhappy there, the people are great. However, I am not certain that it will ever be what it has the potential to be. I know and understand all too well that it is a huge undertaking. I get that. I respect that. That is part of the reason that I didn't just start my own store when I got the crazy idea to actually sell my designs.

I didn't even know that I was "interested" in looking at another store. There were a huge number of new Creative Teams being posted at Digi Shop Talk over the past few days, and that was something that I was interested in. I don't want to be on one, persay. I really don't. I just know that as a designer, I will need to extend a call one day soon.

The CT calls are in the same forum area as the Designer and other calls. There was one call posting that just struck me. So I opened it. I stewed on it for a few days. I emailed back and forth with the person that issued the call to get some more details. I wanted to be certain that going into another store would be more than I wanted right now. I just can't handle much more "digital scrapbooking design" responsibility right now. Too much going on.

But I finally took the plunge. I applied yesterday. I am still waiting on a response. We'll see. No big deal if I don't. I'm staying at The Daily Scrap reguardless. Part of my designs would be exclusive to The Daily Scrap as it is one of the few places that actually accepts 8x8 kit designs. Again, we're back to going against the grain. One of a Kind Scrapz only accepts 12x12 kits.

Has your love for scrapping faded?

Has your love for scrapping faded? Then pull out those old photographs and dust them off. Take a few moments to relish in those memories. My newest kit, "Faded Romance," has hit the TDS Mall. This kit offers a subtle variation of color and is perfect for a variety of pictures.


Get "Faded Romance" for a special introductory price of only $2.50 until March 13, 2007!

Did I catch that scrapping fever?

Well I couldn't just leave 1 layout that had remained incomplete as the only one that reached its completion today. I just couldn't. I took my Adobe Illustrator quiz and I decided that I need to finish another layout that had remained incomplete. I actually scrapped! A 2-page layout even. Go me!


I bought the Canon Digital Rebel XT back in May (end) and these were some of the first pictures I took using it. Not all of them were great, but I did get some that made me go "WOW!" Let's just say that it didn't take much to convince me of the quality of this camera. The pictures worth worth 1,000 words.

These are just a few of the ones I took that day at Mercer Arboretum's Botanical Gardens. I can't wait to see what this spring holds. I had planned on taking the boys to see it this past Saturday, but the weather had other plans for us.

Kit used: Stacey Sansom's "Simply Lush" (yes, I actually scrapped with one of my own creations) available at The Daily Scrap.

Fonts used: ITC Souvenir Light BT, English111 Vivace BT

For those of you that must know, this layout only took me 6.5 months to complete. OK, now I feel bad. I should be more diligent. It is something that I truly enjoy doing.

Today has been such a GREAT release of creative energy. Usually that energy is going into a web design client or what is left after that goes into trying to come up with a "new" digital scrapbooking kit idea. Today, however, my focus has shifted to just reflecting, remembering, and enjoying.

I'm looking at which child?

I finally scrapbooked a complete layout. A 2 page layout at that. I've been in design mode for so long, I would think about sitting down for actually scrapbooking and I would get design ideas instead. That doesn't get much scrapping done. Anyway, here is my most recent "completed" layout. Take a look!

I was going through some old photos. You know those printed photos from years ago? The ones that those of us who have joined the digital revolution have allowed to collect dust. The ones that are still in the developement envelopes and tossed in a box to "get to" later (which never comes). Those pictures that require us digital scrapbookers to actually scan something and so we continue to put it off.

These particular pictures were already on CD so I popped it in and browsed. . . I found the pictures featured in this layout. They caught my attention. They brought a smile to my face. I JUST HAD TO SCRAP THEM - immediately. I started - right away! I just had to scrap them after all. How could you not scrap them?

The really sad part about all this? I started this 2 page layout 10 months ago. The pictures struck me so much, because I couldn't remember who I was looking at for a moment. I was looking at an image of my youngest son who was roughly the same age as the one in the pictures. If I hadn't been able to tell from the background elements in the pictures, I wouldn't have known that it wasn't him.

These are pictures of my middle child, Kyle (now almost 7).

This layout was the inspiration for my kit "Dusty Boy Memories" (available at The Daily Scrap). It is a simple kit, but sometimes the simplest kits are the most fitting for those memories that we have to rub the dust off of to enjoy. The alpha in the layout out is not in the kit.

Fonts used: ITC Souvenir Light BT, Courier

It felt really good to actually to actually scrap today. I just felt like I wanted to do it since last night. Last night when the desire hit, it was too late to get started on anything. I did some of the things I needed to get done earlier today and so I treated myself to some scrapping time. It felt good. I am glad that I did it.

HAPPY SCRAPPING EVERYONE!

The unnamed gets a name!

Well I have finally finished the "unnamed" kit. I couldn't come up with a name. I just couldn't. Nothing seemed to fit. But alas I didn't think that anyone would appreciate a kit named "?????????" So it had to have a name. It needed to be finished too, but that's another story all together. Tonight it not only got its name, it reached completion. Go me!

Check out "Faded Romance." It should hit The Daily Scrap Mall sometime in the next day. If you want to see this kit in action, be sure to see my previous post "If duty calls, just scrap it."

Go ahead, let them SPIN their Wheels!

Go ahead and let them spin their wheels and take LOTS of pictures! "Spinning Wheels" is officially in the mall at The Daily Scrap. This kit is perfect for all things transportation so have a little fun! Better yet, let them have lots of fun. . .
Get "Spinning Wheels" for a special introductory price of $3.25 until March 12, 2007. Don't forget, there is more to come because what good is spinning your wheels without cars, trucks, and trains? Get "Spinning Wheels" now!

I don't know where it came from, but I am glad that it came!

I don't know where my mojo came from the last few days, but I am grateful for its appearance and extremely glad that it came to visit. I hope it doesn't leave right away, I am kind of enjoying its company. I have been busy DESIGNING for the last 2 days and I am ready to unveil to the world what I've done.

Now, before you go saying "what about the other kit?" Don't panic, it is still there. . . it is even being worked on, BUT when the inspiration comes you just have to go with the flow. So my new "unnamed kit" as of yet is still unnamed though it is mostly finished, just a few more finishing touches left to do on it.

But CHECK THIS OUT!!!

This kit is perfect for anyone who has boys! I should know, I've got 3. Got pictures of your children with hotwheels, trains, planes, and anything cars? Then scrap them! I plan on scrapping mine - I've got lots. It is perfect for all those road trip pictures. Been on vacation and what to share? Then scrap them!

And for what it is worth, this is NOT all. This is just the starter kit. It is a full kit, but it is just the start of things to come. I've got at least 3 more kits lined up to go with this, each specializing in a mode of transportation (cars, trucks, and trains). You never know I might find that I need more than just those 3, so stayed tuned. In the meantime, snatch this kit up and have fun. It should be hitting the mall at The Daily Scrap in the next several hours!

Happy scrapping everyone!

Where did that come from?

I think I found my mojo today! I think I found my mojo today! I just sat down and *boom* there it was. It came out of NO WHERE! I am so excited! *happy dance* You all will just have to wait and see what I've got in the works. . .

If duty calls, just scrap it

Well you all might be surprised to see something like this appearing - it hasn't happened in so long after all. I have officially SCRAPPED A PAGE! Now, it isn't a page of pictures - at least, not my pictures. It isn't even a page of my memories. It is a scrapped page, none the less. Go me! Scrap! Scrap! Scrap! It was such a release today. I should do this more often. I just don't always have the time. I should make the time. I guess I could spend less time trying to design, but I enjoy doing that too. I am just slow at all of it in general these days. But, I scrapped! Check it out. . .


What is this for? Part of my duties at church is to do the newsletters and calendars every month for the ladies group (the Relief Society) and to design flyers for the activities if needed. We have an activity coming up the first part of March. So here is the flyer! It is done completely with the kit that I am currently working on. It is a kit that is still un-named. I'll get there. I just can't decide. Part of working on this flyer really helped me get some stuff done for the kit - it was lacking in elements. I am excited about this flyer. I am excited about the new kit as well. I hope to have it released by the end of this coming week. We'll see if we actually get it out then, but I am going to try.

Fonts used: Amienne, Artistamp Medium

Check out the Bargain Basement Sale at The Daily Scrap

Come on, you know you want to. . .

Check out the Bargain Basement Sale at The Daily Scrap that's going on right now. . .

I mean, who can resist an awesome sale - most kits starting at just $1.50. This one happens every weekend over there - kits and designers may vary. This weekend, however, we're celebrating the premier issue release of Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine. The Daily Scrap has an advertisement in the premier issue and we're celebrating by passing on even more savings to you. Go check it out! Runs all day Saturday (Feb 17) and Sunday (Feb 18).


You can add my 2 kits: "For Marissa" and "Going in Circles" (seen in the ad above) to your collection and not feel guilty. You certainly won't break the bank or blow your budget. Get more goodies for less!

Don't be shy you know you want to. Get my kits and many other kits by many other designers for drop bottom prices Saturday and Sunday only!

A Touch of Blue and Other Ramblings

Well it has been a long time coming, but my newest kit has finally been released for sale in the mall at The Daily Scrap. I am quite excited about the release of this. I designed it to be a gender neutral kit. I wanted to keep those that scrap girls interested but I also wanted to make sure that those of us who scrap boys don't feel left out. You'll find the advertisement for the kit below:



A while back I posted about a series of kits in the blue variety. Inspiration ran out, I guess. I just couldn't pull it together. So I combined the Gentle Blues kits that were all still "works in progress" and thus A Touch of Blue was born. And here is the preview for the finished kit:



If you hurry, you can get A Touch of Blue for a special introductory price of $3.50 until February 23, 2007! Pick up A Touch of Blue!

I am not sure what else I will have in the works. I've got a million ideas running through my head. I can't always keep them straight and they don't always work out. I am currently working on a submission to the soon to be released March Mega Kit in collaboration with the other The Daily Scrap designers. It should turn out to be a lovely kit. The colors are not your ordinary March/St Patrick's Day colors, but they are lovely. Keep an eye for more details!

Dusty Boy Memories

I've released a new kit. . . Dusty Boy Memories


Now, if you're a 12x12" scrapper, you might be a little disappointed - this kit is designed for the 8x8" scrappers. Sorry guys! It was fun to do a smaller kit.

This kit was inspired by middle son, Kyle. I was going through some old pictures and found a picture of him when he was roughly a year old. I just had to scrap those pictures, and this is the kit that I started.

Going in Circles

Check out my latest kit: Going in Circles! It became available on November 6, 2006. Here is the advertisement you'll see going around announcing its arrival. . .

I am very excited about the vibrant blues and purples in this kit. It will be fun to scrap a variety of pictures with. It is a good sized kit containing: 6 patterned papers, 6 solid papers, 21 circle cutouts (13"), 7 ribbons, 7 folded ribbons, 8 brads, 8 eyelets, 4 sticky dot circles (5.5"), 1 paper tag, 7 round metal rimmed tags, and 3 rectangular metal bookplates. Here is a full kit preview. . .


Want to know where to get it? Head over to The Daily Scrap! Be sure to send me links to your layouts using Going in Circles so that I can see what you've done.

Long time away and more ramblings

I didn't realize that it had been so long since I had blogged (either here or on my personal blog). I should pay more attention to these things. I have just been crazy busy lately. I finally feel like I am starting to come up for air. That drowning feeling is starting to fade.

I was taking a biology class at the local community college to go toward my degree requirements. I am not a science person to begin with. I just don't like it. I don't care for it. It does not interest me. It never has. It probably never will. This class kicked my butt. I couldn't just take a standard term (16 weeks) class, I had to take the fast-track version of the course. Remember that these are completely online courses. . . everything right down to the labs are done online. No in-classroom time at all, the online forum is the classroom. I am pretty bright. I do well even in things that I don't always get and certainly don't always like. I figured "what the heck, it is only 8 weeks of torture and then I am done with it." So in I went. Oh boy! That was a very fast paced 8 weeks. That is a LOT of information to cover in 8 weeks. It was constantly biology. Nevermind that I also had another class on top of this one. . . it was all about biology during these 8 weeks. Lots of reading. Lots of reading that is going over my head. Lots of work. Let us not forget that group research paper complete with power point presentation. UGH! TORTURE! The sad part is that I really miss the class now that it has been out for a couple of weeks. I don't miss the intense coursework and studying, but I do miss the online course experience. Of all of my online courses, this has been the absolute BEST class in the "experience" department. The professor really made an effort and encouraged to not only think outside the box, but to learn about ourselves and our interactions with others. This was the most interactive class I have ever been in and it was also the best in the experience department. No, I didn't learn everything biology I should probably know, but I did learn a lot and I had a fun time doing it. Thanks Mr. Boyle! For what it is worth, I got a B in the course! I was so stinking close to the A that it wasn't funny, but alas I didn't quite make it. Getting the B stings the GPA a bit, but I'm sure I'll recover fairly quickly.

I have been working around the clock. . . well, it feels like that after spending 8 hours in front of a computer doing nothing but. . . working on capturing and editing karate tournament videos for Texas Sport Karate News. This is a lot of work. I am several tournaments behind. Everyone is being patient. I am probably less patient with myself. I am just overwhelmed and it is a lot to get caught up. My goal is to be caught up by Super Grands (usually Thanksgiving weekend). Today I finished all of the Acapulco tournament. It looks like I will finish all of the Ocean Nationals tournament as well. Then I'll be onto the others I haven't done yet. It is a lot of work.

We won't forget my own web design company, Inventive Site Strategies, Inc. We've had another client job done. I liked it. It was a nice change from the past several we have had. I am now waiting for the next one. . . I am not sure when that will be. Of course, there is always the Texas Sport Karate News. . .

I am desperately trying to finish some more digital kits. I haven't fulfilled my duties at The Daily Scrap in a couple of months. I am just so far behind in everything. Getting sick and getting behind and crazy busy are not a good combination. I do not recommend it. I have found that designing takes a lot of time I don't really have. I just have so much going on that finding time to sit and just design is very hard. I really need to make it a priority, but so many other things demand my time too. I am hoping that things improve a little bit in the next few weeks. I currently have started and almost ready for release: 4 full kits and 1 alpha (3 colors). In the works are 3 paper packs. I am not sure where I will go from there.

Does the feeling of inadequacy ever go away? I sit down to try and put the final touches on these kits (mentioned above) and I just sit and wonder if they are really good enough. Are they? I don't know. I worry constantly that they aren't ready for release. I worry that I don't get a file exported correctly or at the wrong resolution (this has happened, but is fixable). I worry that people just won't like it. Worry. Worry. Worry. Does that stop? How long do you have to be doing this before the feeling goes away?

I will be gathering together a Creative Team soon. I know that at least one member is estatic! I am not entirely sure who else will be on the team yet, but I am working on gathering together a list of names to personally ask them. Once the above mentioned kits are available to the public, my Creative Team will be announced. I am working on a "designer" logo and blinkies right now. This is proving to be a lot harder to come up with than I thought it would.

I will update again soon. . .