Beach Shots

Oakley's Oakleys

They're not really Oakley shades, but I couldn't resist. Oakley is one "cool dude" don't you think? Well, that's what everyone says when they see him taking walks wearing his shades. I never realized that the sun is bad for dog eyes as well as ours and he actually keeps them on for long walks when it's very sunny.
For those of you who don't know Oakley. We got him 10 years ago, but had to give him away when he was 3 1/2. He was adopted by Debby and Jim who have become very good friends of ours. The kids and I just spent a whole week at the beach with them, including Oakley, Sophie (their black lab) and Margaret the cat.

More on CKC - Valley Forge

{elizabeth dillow and me}



{me with kim kesti}


As promised I have more on CKC - Valley Forge. It was so much fun, I want to do it again, like tomorrow! I took three classes and was a Teaching Assistant for two, well three, but one we did
two times in a row. I have to say that I really liked all the classes.


{second layout from scheming around}


The classes that I was a TA for were great. The first (and second) one was called Scheming Around. It was taught by Elizabeth Dillow, from Simple Scrapbooks and the author of "the scrapbooker's Almanac". The projects in the book are based on days of the year and lesser known holidays, some birthdays and a few more known holidays....very cool! She's so sweet and I got to spend two hours with her! Anyway, the class made three layouts and they were all multi-photo layouts. The first one look amazingly like a sketch I did and posted as a challenge on the SAS board. I'll have to post photos. The second one was really cool. They punched holes in a big circle and then put a contrasting cardstock on the back to show through. Then I got to spend the next hour with Kim Kesti from Papercrafts Magazine. She's great, too. I really lucked out with these, two! Her class was called Crazy for Chipboard which, if you know my scrapbooking, is totally up my alley. I'm a huge chipboard fan. In this class they made three cards with different chipboard techniques; painting, sanding, stamping, covering with paper...I'm probably forgetting some. Oh one was a chipboard file folder card. I loved all the cards and was able to get an extra instruction sheet. I've already re-created two of the three with my own supplies.


{mini-book cover}
The first class I took was Stretch Your Supplies which was based on Jennifer McGuire's book "101 Things you can do with your Scrapbook Supplies". It was taught by Tiffany Tillman. We did a layout and a mini book cover. I thought we were supposed to do a card, too, but maybe I was wrong. It was a fairly fast paced class. I didn't really learn how to stretch my supplies, but the layout and book cover I do really like. I finished the book cover and almost finished the layout.

The next class was also by Tiffany. It was called "One, Two,Three, 4x6". I was hoping to learn some tips on 4x6 layouts, but really didn't. We just made three layouts. Another fast paced class I didn't finish them because I didn't bring the right photos - colors were wrong. Now most people probably finished the layouts, but I'm really anal. when it comes to doing layouts. I take my good 'ol time to line things up.


{felt fusion mini album}

Later on I took a class called Felt Fusion Mini Album. This was really interesting to me because I have a pack of this and never took it out to use it. We made a little accordian book and a card. I was surprised to find out that the adhesive on this product is meant for heavier duty projects instead of lightweight paper and that you're supposed to use glue on it rather than peel the sticky off so you can move it around a little. The self-adhesive doesn't let you pick it up and move it. I also learned that this product is really meant to be cut up (or used as it comes like a border). I did actually learn a lot about the product in this class and I finished both projects there. The classses that I was a TA for were great. The first (and second) one was called Scheming Around. It was taught by Elizabeth Dillow, from Simple Scrapbooks and the author of "the scrapbooker's Almanac". The projects in the book are based on days of the year and lesser known holidays, some birthdays and a few more known holidays....very cool! She's so sweet and I got to spend two hours with her! Anyway, the class made three layouts and they were all multi-photo layouts. The first one look amazingly like a sketch I did and posted as a challenge on the SAS board. I'll have to post photos. The second one was really cool. They punched holes in a big circle and then put a contrasting cardstock on the back to show through. Then I got to spend the next hour with Kim Kesti from Papercrafts Magazine. She's great, too. I really lucked out with these, two! Her class was called Crazy for Chipboard which, if you know my scrapbooking, is totally up my alley. I'm a huge chipboard fan. In this class they made three cards with different chipboard techniques; painting, sanding, stamping, covering with paper...I'm probably forgetting some. Oh one was a chipboard file folder card. I loved all the cards and was able to get an extra instruction sheet. I've already re-created two of the three with my own supplies.



{amy, me and kristin}
Doesn't it look like we're holding up Olympic medals?


Between all of that I walked around the vendor faire a little. I didn't leave myself enough time at the vendor faire. I didn't even see half of it. I did meet up with some of the CKMB gals and got a cute tag that Kristin made for us out of a placemat...she's so creative. So it was a VERY busy day that started with me getting up at 5:30 am. This will explain why I look SO tired in the photos.


{lil-rosi, amy, me}

Seeing things differently

When I started Architecture school way back when I remember my Professor telling the class that by the time we graduated we wouldn't be able to walk through a space and look at it in the same way as we did then. He said it was almost like a curse that you have for the rest of your life. Well it didn't take me long to realize exactly what he was talking about. Funny thing is that I'm finding that a similar thing is happening to me since I started scrapbooking. I don't look at things the same way I did 2 1/2 years ago. I look at everyday moments differently and seem to stop and enjoy those moments more. I also noticed that my wheels are always turning. I see things and think about what I can craft with them or how I can use them on a layout. When sales reps come into my office to show their latest wallcovering, for example, I'm thinking "that would be cool to use on a layout, I wonder if it's acid free". They are always bringing in little giveaways such as notebooks with their logos on them or a tote bag made out of their upholstery...all sorts of stuff. You know what I'm thinking..."Oooo, I can't alter that cute little book!" Here's a photo of one I did a while ago. It was a notebook from a local paint manufacturer, MAB Paints (recently bought out by Sherwin Williams). I made a little book to keep Photoshop Elements Tips and notes in as I learn the program.
It's amazing how your view changes through your life experience.

I really need to update this blog

I've been super busy lately. I decided about 2 weeks ago to make my brother and sister-in-law a baby scrapbook for their new baby girl who is due to arrive in September. The Baby Shower was yesterday so I was frantically working to get 20 pages and two gift cards finished in time for it. I was still working yesterday morning until about an hour before I had to leave. Friday I spent all day at CKC Valley Forge. I was a TA for three classes and took three classes. I post more about that later with my class review and some photos.