Remember that Luggage...

Remember that lime green luggage that Leigh Ann and Anita and I saw a preview of at SBAM in Knoxville?? Guess what? I found it on the MM site. Isn't it hot?

Pumpkins...I Love Pumpkins...Lotsa and Lotsa Pumpkins...

Aren't these the cutest?? How much cuter would they be with a pretty fallish/pumpkin-ish patterned paper and ribbons??

{Sad} Moments Defined

Someone should really tell the women (supposedly) of Moments Defined to find some new male material...because apparently they've made some really poor choices in the man department. At least that's what this ad leads me to think. It sure doesn't make me want to buy their paper.

I've seen this ad in several scrapbook mags lately and it bugs me to no end. It's sexist. It's depressing. It's degrading. And most of all, it has nothing to do with the products.

You know I adore paper. I go to great lengths for paper acquisitions. :) It occupies a large part of my home. I value paper.

But not ever above my man.
No way, no how.

Paper has never kissed me back.
It's never hugged me when I hurt or brought me flowers for no reason.
It has never written me a song.
It's never brought me dinner in bed when I was sick.
It doesn't help with the laundry.
It doesn't mow the grass or fill the gas tank on my car.
It doesn't wrestle in the floor with my sons.
It doesn't play guitar or sing.
Paper doesn't smell deliscious after a shower.
Paper doesn't soothe my soul.
Paper doesn't pick up the dry cleaning.
It doesn't enjoy sharing a bowl of popcorn and a good movie with me.
It doesn't push stray strands of hair away from my face.
It has never once said "I love you" or "I'm sorry".
Paper doesn't cheer for the Titans on tv and it doesn't go camping with my cub scout.
Paper doesn't look good in a pair of ripped up jeans.

Shall I stop there?? I could go on ya know...

Would we stand for a company to make similar blatant generalizations and degrading stereotypes about womanhood? Absolutely not. No way no how. I can guarantee you the peas would have had them for lunch and dinner.

So why is there no outrage about this ad? (Well, ya know, besides me?) I wish I had an answer. I don't. I find it more than a little annoying and I have no plans to buy paper from Moments Defined...even tho perhaps they could use it on therapy.

Make Way for Crafty Woman

During most of the year, I am a woman deeply committed to just one hobby. Scrapbooking. You know this. For three seasons of the year, rarely does a day go by that I don't do something scrap-related...sometimes alot of somethings. However, when fall hits, my alter ego bubbles to the surface again. Her name--Crafty Woman. I think there may be something in the air...a love of flea markets and craft shows leftover from my childhood, the smell of pine shavings from my father's funiture making shop...magazines packed with holiday craft project ideas gracing the newstands at the grocery. It all just brings her back from her tri-season hibernation.

Crafty Woman is drawn to painting and baking and sewing and kids crafts and ornament making and card making and any of a hundred other crafty things. She scours Michaels website and craft magazines and home dec idea books for new ideas for incorporating craftyness into her holidays. She's driven. :)

She arrived on the scene today...when she saw a photo of this Stocking Advent Calendar at www.mypolkadots.com , an upscale toy catalog. "How neat is that? And how easy it would be to make!" The thought buzzed right thru her brain before she even realized. You know...those are the immortal words of Crafty Woman..."How easy it would be to make that!"

It took Crafty Woman all of three seconds to track down and print out a darling little pattern for a stocking, find some cording in the Christmas decorations. CW's stockings are going to be made of muslin and I think Crafty Woman's kids will l-o-v-e stamping on them with paint! Crafty Woman loves to get the kids involved!!

So, she's back with a vengence. Marauding thru the aisles of the craft stores in search of that perfect next project. Making sketches...tracking down directions...plotting and planning. Buying paints and felts and threads and fabrics and silk garlands and ribbons...beware. It could be catching!!!

Happy Tuesday!!

Ding Ding Ding...We Have a Winner...

Peas. Can't live with 'em...can't smack 'em. There ought to be some kind of award for the most closed-minded pea. Today it could be awarded to the peas who seem to have forgotten that scrapbooking is a personal art and there's more than one way to do it.

I guess I don't understand why there's such an "us or them" mentality in the scrapbooking world...

--Events versus moments.
--People who use 10 pictures on a spread versus people who prefer 1 or 2 on a page.
--Scrappers who enjoy close-up photos versus those with mostly snapshots.
--Those who like enlargements versus those who only use 4x6 prints.
--Black and White vs color.
--Staplers vs non-staplers.
--CM vs the rest of scrap-dom.
--Creative versus self-declared non-creative.
--Digi versus paper.
--Digi versus film.
--Journaled versus un-journaled...or worse, single word journaled.
--Top-loading versus strap-hinge.
--8.5x11 versus 12x12.
--Eyelets versus brads.
--Computer-generated journaling versus hand-written journaling.
--Those who scrap for the noble cause of documenting for the future versus those who just enjoy playing with paper and pictures and basically ignore future generations.
--Bazzil versus cardstock
--Layouts about children versus child-free LOs.
--Stampin' Up! versus Close to my Heart.
--Matte versus Glossy.
--Documentarian versus whatever the opposite of documentarian is.

Why can't we be OK with all our options? Options are a beautiful thing, right? If options weren't a beutiful thing Bazzill wouldn't go to the trouble of creating 300 colors of cardstock. Ten colors would do, right? (gag, cough, choke, can't breathe...give me Bazzil or give me...)

Someone should remind the peas who've forgotten that there is more than one way to scrapbook. It's an imprecise, forgiving, personal art. Hence, the word "scrap". You don't have to personally adore or want to scraplift every LO ever created and published in a magazine. I doubt anyone does. Not every LO is going to strike your fancy. Why can't you still be respectful? Obviously someone likes it. Why can't you be OK with that? No one is asking you to do it in your books...just respect it. Take what you see in a magazine and let it be a place to start. Let it point you in a new direction. Expand your ...ok, now I'm starting to sound silly...but really.

Dissect. Discern. Duplicate. Discard.

Here's my four "D" plan...a mental process for getting useful ideas from *any* magazine or layout:

1. Dissect the elements of the LO. Consider the individual elements without the context of the whole.
2. Discern what appeals to you.
3. Duplicate that.
4. Discard the rest.

Scrappers are a creative bunch. You'd think we could all get out of the proverbial box long enough to appreciate each other for our uniqueness rather than expecting world-wide uniformity. Scrapbooking is one of the few places where we don't have to play by the rules. Let's enjoy that for a change. Shall we?

It's a Great Day to be Alive...

to borrow a sentiment from Travis Trit...Things just feel right to me today. That doesn't happen very often so I try to enjoy it when it does.

--I love fall and the leaves started turning this week in our neighborhood. I'm dragging the family out for photos in the park leaves later today.

--My in-laws came by yesterday afternoon on their way home from PA and we went out for dinner to my favorite resaurant (Jim n Nicks BBQ). They stayed over and went to church with us this morning. I always enjoy seeing them and the boys adore them. We will miss them...they are moving to PA in a week or so. This will take them from being 6 hours away to being 13 hours away.

--Speaking of church, it was my day to help out in G's Sunday School class. I don't usually look forward to it (12-15 two and three year olds is a little too chaotic for my comfort level) but today went well. G had a nice time and got along well with the other children. One of the little girls--Emma--wasn't so happy to be there so I spent a good portion of the class holding her in my lap. She was sweet and cuddly...I get that so rarely now...I think I enjoyed it as much as she did. Pink smocking fascinates me.

--Joal's begun working on his Christmas music for this year's *Christmas Experience* events. I probably won't get to attend any of his shows this year and I will miss it. He's including a LeAnn Rimes tune "I Need You" in this set...I was a little surprised by the irony of *my husband* singing a LeAnn Rimes tune...that's not usually his style but this song is incredible. It was part of the sountrack of music from *Jesus* the epic mini-series. I would like to get him to lay down a rough track of that one...

--My little sister is on my mind alot lately. I say "little" out of habit but she's not little anymore. She's 17 and beautiful. She's learning to drive and going on dates. I'm so proud of her and I miss her so much. I'm hoping she'll be able to come visit soon.

--I started Julian's Fire Fighter adventures album while I was at Croptoberfest. I'm going to work on that more later today. He's so proud of it. I'm taking the minimallist approach--very little embellishing--I'm just enlarging many of the photos. He has pulled it out at least once a day every day since I've been home.

Thanks for sticking with me.

In the Scrap Biz

Have you read Kim Guymon's blog? If you have interests in the business of scrapbooking, I think you'll find it interesting. (Kim is the founder of Scrap Biz, a business incubator and an icon in the industry.)

Wanna Swap??

For several years now I have wanted to have a special Christmas tree decorated with all paper/scrapbook ornaments. This is the year...I am going to do it.

I was thinking of hosting a swap to this end. Let me know if you are interested in joining me.

Paper Christmas Ornament Swap
Due by November 30

Make 6 similar paper based Christmas ornaments...receive back 6 different ones.

--Nothing larger than 5x5.

--Ornaments should be primarily paper...but any of the usual scrapping embellishments are welcome. ie ribbon, beads, brads, tags, eyelets, acrylics, embossing, etc...basically if you can do it in your scrapbook, you can do it here.

--No glass ornaments please.

Sign up by emailing scrappinsarah@msn.com

PS My new issue of PaperKuts came today and inside was a picture that I thought perfectly illustrated this swap. These are just possibilities for ideas...you may choose to leave a space for photos or not include photos at all. They don't have to be square...could be circular or tags or whatever shape strikes you.

Stampin' Up!

Attn Sabrina, my AOL-user friend! I unpacked today and realized I have your Stampin' Up! catalog. Sorry about that. Well, OK, not really. I've been browsing thru it today and darn it...no catalog should have this many good things in it!

I really need a job!

Swaps

One of my favorite things about Croptoberfest is participating in the swaps. This year I entered three swaps: a card swap, the ATC swap and the Rolodex/Friendship Page Swap.

This was my first experience with making ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). Random personal pieces of art...can't beat that! It's tradition that we do the Friendship page swap but this was the first year that it was in the form of a Rolodex card. How unique is that? I love the idea. I don't have a Rolodex holder, so I placed hole reinforments over the Rolodex slots and put the collection on binder rings. Click here to see my Rolodex Card entry (front and back) and my ATC entry. (I forgot to scan the card I entered in the card swap.)

It was fun.

What Not to Wear

Have you ever watched the tv show--"What Not to Wear"?

I generally hate television. I don't like to watch it much at all...mostly because I have this nasty habit of eating incessantly whenever I watch tv...and it's easier to not watch than to try to break the habit. (Gee, this is starting to sound like a therapy session. --sorry.)

Anyway, somewhere along the way, I accidentally watched this fashion advice show called "What Not to Wear". Now I find myself strangely drawn to it...and I have no idea why.

This show is so totally not me. I would die before spending $300 on a skirt. There's just no way I could do it. The show gives the makeover recipient a "budget" of $5ooo to spend on a new wardrobe...after the advisors rip to shreds the makeover recipient's current clothing choices. Really. They are brutally honest. Admitantly, some of the clothing choices are pretty pathetic...like I am one to talk. Anyway, they ambush the person who's been nominated by her supposed friends for a makeover and new wardrobe. They wisk her away to New York and educate her on what she should be wearing. Then they send her shopping on the 5K. She gets a new hairdo, new makeup and then goes home for "the big reveal" to her friends and family.

Do you know that a clothing budget of 5K in Nashville TN goes a whole lot further than 5K in New York? Is a $300 skirt really that much better than a $50 skirt? Really? And shoes...are $350 shoes really that much more classy than $40 shoes?? I just don't think so.

I've learned a thing or two by watching the show. Lines, colors, body shaping...but mostly...don't go clothes shopping in New York.

The Gift

It was just barely dark Sunday evening when we got home from the trip but Julian could not wait any longer to show me his latest accomplishment. He learned to ride his bike while I was away!

If you've been hanging around my little blog for a while, you may remember an entry a while back that mentioned what a long hard time we've had getting him to learn to ride a bike. It's been a rough ride, so to speak.

But never underestimate the determination of a nine-year-old and his father. While I was gone, Joal decided that mobility deserved one more really good try. He took Julian to Target and they picked out a brand spanking new bike! They picked out a new helmet and knee pads. Jules was pumped up to say the least. :)

Joal said he fell a few times before he got the hang of the pedal brakes...and Grey got a little smooshed between the car and the brother-on-bike once (G learned that lesson fast)...but otherwise it's smooth flying now.

He loves it! He's a different boy. I know it's cliche' but he really does seem more confident and proud that he's conquered this bike thing. I can't tell you how proud I am. When I saw him take off on that bike, my heart was in my throat. The internal mommy-cheerleader was doing a dance in my head...and chanting "Please don't fall...please don't fall..."

And ya know what??

He didn't.

Had the girls not still been here when he took his ride around the yard to show me, I probably would have cried. I did cry later. It's that big a deal. He climbed the mountain. He stormed the beaches. He didn't quit. He compensated for his shortcomings and now he can fly.

Sometimes being the mommy stinks. And then sometimes it's a gift. Seeing my boy ride his bike around the yard...hearing him laugh and yell "Look mom!"...that was a gift that may never be topped.

Random Observations part 1

On our way over to Croptoberfest, we stopped at Scrapbook Warehouse in Cookeville, TN. What an awesome store! Really. I'm kinda hard to impress...but this store really did it. It's roughly 80 miles from my home but I will be going back. (It's that good.) Very friendly staff. Lots of lines I hadn't seen. Well stocked on the basics. Good prices.

I was finally able to choose an album for Julian's firestation adventures. I have been mulling on this decision for far too long because I really don't like ordering albums before seeing them in person. I have been eyeing the Making Memories 9x9 with the deep-set front window in black, but I could never find it in person. That is until our visit to Scrapbook Warehouse. They had it and refills too. I bought it and even got several pages done in it at Croptoberfest.

We went from Scrapbook Warehouse to Scrapbooks and More in Knoxville. As stores go, SBAM always delivers. Big. Well-stocked. Variety. Friendly. Fun. Awesome! One of the girls there showed us the new lime green baggage from Making Memories (I think) that set to arrive before the end of the year. Oh man. That is so cool. Who knew lime green could be so cool?

SBAM is also the home of one of the first EK Success stores in the country. That is an rocking set-up. EK has really outdone themselves with this concept. It was there that I became the proud new owner of a oversized photo corner punch thing. Again, this is something I have been wanting for a while (thanks to the Pub girls great use of it). I've already used it about 6 times!!

Leigh Ann acquired these cool alpha stamps that I think I may need, especially after seeing her enjoy them on projects thru the weekend. Appropriately named "Swanky"... in the Image Tree line by EK Success. I see many possibilities for these little darlings, especially at the very nice price of $10.

I found another set of stamps at SBAM that I was tempted by...didn't get them but now I wish I had... the Vintage Label set from the EK Nostalgiques/Attic Collection.

After SBAM, we trekked over to AC Moore...only making one wrong-turn. (Sorry ya'll.) Crafter's heaven there. Wow! We used our coupons...of course.

We hit the grocery store and then headed up the mountain.

(to be continued.)

PS I was thrilled to pick up the newest Scrapbooks etc issue after I got home and see that the cover layout featured handwritten journaling! I really love this magazine and this is just one more reason to love it. Hand-journaling...it's a great thing.

PS again...I had a wonderful time on my weekend away with "the girls" but I got the most wonderful gift upon my arrival home. (Tune in tomorrow to find out what it was.) hee hee...

Thoughts on Art

"Real art is not comfortable. It forces us to stop dead and SEE what we are looking at. It forces us to engage with it, think about it, react to it with our emotions. It catches us with our defenses down and punches us in the gut."

The quote above comes from "New Ways to See" by Marylaine Block. What an interesting article.

Run on Over to Staples...

Don't you love it when you "discover" an unusual or unexpected treasure? I do. It makes my day.

Tonight I stopped in Staples and while looking at the holiday printer stationery I discovered this little unexpected treasure!
Gartner Studios makes a line of holiday stationery with *Add-Ons* for Staples. This is one of the *Add-Ons*--metal snowflake brads!! The bag of 12 costs $3. They are about the size of a silver dollar.

These remind me of one of the metal shapes in the assortment package of shapes by Making Memories...but these are brads (ie much easier to use than things that need eyelets) and you get more of the same style item for less $$.

I a-d-o-r-e snowflakes. I can't wait to use these...I only bought three bags. LOL!

My Good Friend

What a Perfect Weekend

Good friends...a few scrap supplies...a few awesome scrapping stores...a fun yard sale of cheap supplies...great technique min-classes...stunningly beautiful weather...who could ask for a more perfect weekend??

I'm working on photos right now. I'll post some more later.

Countdown

See that counter in the small collumn of my little blog? It's been there for months and in just a few hours it's finally going to arrive at -0-. Know what that means?

I will be leaving.
Leaving the children with the husband.
Leaving the house and the yard.
Leaving the blog.
Leaving the mail.
Leaving the email.
Leaving the peas.
Leaving the neighbors.
Leaving the city.
Leaving the county.
Leaving the region.
Leaving most of the responsibility...

Going to the mountains--the Great Smoky Mountains in the hills of east Tennessee...the place that some call "God's Country"...a title I am inclined to agree with, especially during this time of the year.

Going away for a few days of recuperations, relaxation, recreation and of course, a little scrapbooking. (Sorry. No "r" word for scrapbooking.) I'm dragging Anita and Leigh Ann with me...if you are on the road between here and there, look for the completely overloaded white Jeep carting three girls who are giddy with the lack of responsibility! That would be us!!

We are meeting 40+ other girls for a weekend in the woods! This is the 7th year of this blissful weekend and it's my fifth to attend. I should be packing and cleaning out the Jeep now (and about 300 other things to do before I can leave) but I am so giddy I can harly figure out what to do next.

I have managed to plan my LP assignments for the next three months and pack kits for each. I have packed kits for about ten pages and 3 sets of swap cards. As unusual as it is for me to actually do something at these events...I am going to get things accomplished at this one. I will. I n-e-e-d to. Cross your fingers for me.

Our plan is to stop at 4 scrapbook stores along the way. It's not a vacation for me if there's no shopping...luckily I am armed with friends who enjoy shopping as well. :)

So...hope everyone has a great weekend. :)

Many More Card

My monthly card for the LP DT swap.

(I am in love with Scenic Route Paper. They sent cool stuff for the team to design with and I couldn't help myself...I had to have more. I am grateful I have access to some wonderful LSS who offer it.)

This is the LP "Noted" lowercase alpha.

The outside message is "Wishing you many...".
The inside message is "many more!".

And my little clay pot...I am loving Fimo! If we ever get a dog, I think we should name him Fimo.

All Night Next Week

This is the quintessential Grey.

Hammer in hand.
Busy.
Focused.
Outside.
Squatting.
Mussed Hair.
Old tennis shoes.

Lately he’s taken to answering everything with one of three favorite phrases.

Why?
Nex'week.
All night.

Each phrase is used interchangeably and without regard to the question. It makes for a funny little conversation. That is for sure.