Kiss and Tell Scrapbooking

A Two-Fer: Road Trips Scrapbook Layout for National Scrapbooking Day

 

I made this page for the Two Peas in a Bucket National Scrapbooking Day Challenge #3 "Paper Piercing" AND for the Big Picture Classes Challenge #4 "Use Twine" (I know the embroidery floss at the bottom is not twine - but BPC always encourages substitutions and I don't have any twine - gasp!).

Actually, this layout also qualifies for the Two Peas Challenges #7 "Polaroids" and #8 "Negative Space".  Seems like NSD is flying by so I'm making sure my layouts fill more than one challenge category.

Are you participating in the National Scrapbooking Day Challenges?  Have you made one layout that satisifes more than one challenge?  Leave a link, I'd love to see.

 

 

Spring Break 2012

Spring Break 2012:  We are on a Stay-Cation this year.  Fortunately, Busch Gardens is about 40 minutes away and I just bought the year long fun passes so we're planning several trips to this mostly zoo theme park.  There are lots of rollercoasters there too but my kids just like watching the roller coasters, not actually riding them.  They like slow rides like the train, the sky ride, and the jeep ride through the safari.  All fine by me.  We really enjoyed the white tiger exhibit, the gorillas and the animal hospital / nursery.  We also met up with some friends for lunch.  A good time was had by all.  Really. It was a lovely day and the park was not crowded.  Its been 5 or 6 years since we've been to Busch Gardens andAllison didn't remember it at all so it was like a new park to her.  Fun Stuff.  Today we're going to hunt for shark's teeth at the beach.

Here's a peek at Spring Break 2010:  Looks like that year we went to Epcot and the Disney water parks.  That's always a super fun time for us too.  Wow they look little.

Space Coast Mini Book

From the In-Progress Mini-Book Shelf: 

Last summer we went to Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral for the 4th of July weekend, it was a week before the last shuttle launch.  My husband is a huge fan of all things space so he was interested, I was happy to see all the Star Trek stuff since my Dad and I used to watch together; we got to try surfing (much harder than it looks), and spent a nice weekend away together. 

I made a scrapbook mini book while on the trip - it is 65% finished so I add to it now and then.  Last night I added some of those map die cut letters to the front of the album:

Since I included so many pages, I have put the vacation and anything "space" themed in the album - like Buzz Light Year Halloween Costumes, toy rocket ships, and even 4th of July Photos so the album is broader than just one vacation:

 I have dozens of photo albums and mini books that are "in progress" and I'm totally ok with that since I like the idea that I can go back to it and add as I feel like it; but I don't feel obligated to finishing.  Is that weird?  How about you?  Do you finish your mini books?  Do you feel like you NEED to finish or are you ok with having mini books that are "in progress"? 

 

Map Die Cut Letters and Numbers for Travel and Vacation Scrapbooking

MAP DIE CUT LETTER AND NUMBERS:  I spent about an hour while watching my favorite soap, die cutting letters and numbers from some of the maps I picked up on some recent travels. 

I arranged the die cut alphabet letters and numbers in a muffin tin so now I'll be ready for titles for my travel and vacation scrapbook pages and mini books.

Love maps in scrapbooking?  Check out these affiliate links:

 

DCWV "The Snapshot Stack" Layout #3 "The Book of Awesome"

This page made with the Polaroid Frames from the DCWV (Die Cuts With a View) "The Snapshot Stack" is part of my "Book of Awesome"; a 6x10 scrapbook album from American Crafts. 

I have a few of these three ring binder mini albums and have used my Brother P-Touch labeler to designate their categories: "Autobiography in Years"; "Book of Awesome"; and "Quotes I Love."  I keep these close by my scrapbooking desk so I can add pages whenever I get some inspiration for these mini books; I also keep some home made mini books, photo albums, and 9x9 albums handy for when I want to scrap in different sizes or in particular themes like travel.

 Here is my 6x10 inch page titled "3 Ski Trips 2012" with the DCWV Polaroid Frames:

I created the die cut letters with my Quickutz die cutter and a ski catalog that I picked up on one of the trips; and I glue sticked and stitched the die cut letters on the page.

If you wish to support this blog, please click through to one of these affiliate links:

The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge Series (Day 24): Finnick Odair

Welcome Scrapbookers to The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge Day #24!

I don't think we get to see Finnick until Catching Fire, but I'd join Team Finnick and if I had to choose a District, it would be District 4: Land of Fishing, boating, the Gulf of Mexico (whatever they are calling that in Panem), and true love. 

   

 (The Hunger Games & Catching Fire SPOILER ALERT):  Finnick Odair:  The male tribute from District 4. He won the 65th Hunger Games by using a trident he recieved as a gift from sponsors; District 4's trade is fishing. Finnick is described as being one of the most stunning, sensuous people on the planet. He is known for his attractive emerald eyes and golden hair. During the Quarter Quell, a jabberjay recording of his one true love, Annie Cresta, screaming is used as psychological torture. Katniss was hesitant to make Finnick her ally, but he proved to be valuable when he helped Peeta off his plate and then administered CPR after he hit the force field. Finnick was a key person in the rebellion, as revealed to Katniss in the hovercraft at the end of the book.  Victor of the 65th Hunger Games. Originally from District 4, Helped in the rebellion against the Capitol. He and Katniss help each other keep sane when Peeta and Annie aren't there. He marries Annie Cresta after she is rescued from the Capitol, but is killed by rose-scented lizard mutts during the mission to assassinate President Snow. He and Annie have a child. (source The Hunger Games wiki)

Themes for scrapbooking that we can take from Finnick include: 1. True Love, 2. Crazy, 3. Rescue, 4. Water, 5. Lizards, 6. Secrets, 7. Gulf of Mexico, 8. Boating, 9. Fishing, and 10. Sea Creatures.

1. True Love:

 

2. Crazy 

3. Rescue

4. Water

5. Lizards

 

6. Secrets

7. Gulf of Mexico / Pass-a-Grille Beach is on the Gulf of Mexico

8. Boating (Christmas Boat Parade)

9. Fishing

10. Sea Creatures / Beach Cleanup

If you wish to support this blog, please click through to one of these affiliate links:

Vacation Scrapbooking: Mapping Out Your Travels

I think that these maps would be fun additions to a travel scrapbook.

 

Katie Scott's Travels

 

Katie Scott's Travels in Europe

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

Katie Scott's Travels in the US

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

I saw this type of map on Katie The Scrapbook Lady's site and wanted to try it out.  I didn't count my plane touch downs in California and Texas for the purpose of this map since I didn't really set outside of the airport.

The travels of the world look a little sparse despite that I feel like I did a lot of traveling, especially during college, through Europe.  There's a whole lot of world out there to see.

I set a goal with my kids to get them to see all 50 states before my daughter graduates from high school, here's where they've been:

Katie's Kids' Travels of the US

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

We've got lots of ground to cover.

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge Series (Day 12): District 2 Masonry

Welcome Scrapbookers to District 2 of Panem: Land of Masonry and Peacekeepers in what would have been the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Hey.  Psst.  I got a comment recently from a scrapbooker who said she "couldn't figure out" what I was trying to do with The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge Series.  So I guess I should explain a bit:  I find that when I start with a theme for scrapbooking, I can translate the theme into all sorts of different scrapbooking pages and projects.  The theme gives me a starting point.  I recently discovered The Hunger Games and read through the triology in less than  a week and I am highly anticipating the movie.  Since the imaginary dystopian  world includes many districts and themes and characters, I thought it would be fun to use The Hunger Games as a theme or a jumping off point for scrapbooking inspiration.  You are welcome to join in and translate the themes as closely or as loosely as you wish.  There is a Flickr Group for this challenge if you wish to play along - here is the link to The Hunger Games Flickr Group. 

District 2 of Panem is the place where Peacekeepers are trained, and where the weapons are manufactured, but originally specialized only in mining and stone cutting. Publicly it's presented as the nation's stone quarries, just like District 13 was known for graphite mining. District 2 children are raised with a warrior mind-set and most of the Peacekeepers are from District 2. This district was the only one not on the side of the first rebellion, and after the attempt failed, were rewarded by better treatment from the Capitol, and better living conditions for their citizens. District 2 is in the Rocky Mountains, near the Capitol itself. The district is made up of many small villages, each based around a mine. Although the district is allied with the Capitol, due to their preferential treatment, the quarry workers suffer as much as any other district, not being excluded from the annual Hunger Games that take place. (source Wikia). 

Since I just returned from beautiful and amazing Durango, Colorado and that is the location of District 2, I'll be taking my inspiration from the location of this district in Panem. 

I made a photo collage in Picasa and typed in this journaling:  "Now I Know What John Denver Meant when he sang Rocky Mountain High.  I found myself singing the lyrics "coming home to a place {s}he's never seen before."  I was so moved by the beauty of these mountains and the solitude I found in the snowy trails.  I had visions of uprooting our family and transplanting us in Durango, Colorado.  I fell completely in love with this place. Charlie was not as convinced, he liked the vacation and made a lot progress in his ski lessons, but made it clear that he's a Florida Boy.  I do still hold out hopes for a vacation rental property."

I printed the photo collage on an 8.5 x 11 sheet and trimmed it just a bit and backed it with patterned paper.  No embellishments.  Just words and photos and a bit of background.  I did add a zig zag stitch for a little visual interest.   Simple.  And Done.

P.S. I know there's a misspelling in my scrapbook page and the print quality is not the most awesome; but I'm still calling it done!

If you wish to support this blog, check out these affiliate links for The Hunger Games books and related products:

 

 

 

12 Things

I was only on vacation in Colorado for 6 days but it feels like its going to take that long to re-acclimate to my life.  I'm not really sure why, its that MOM-entum thing I talked about on the blog yesterday.  Here are 12 Things I've been up to since I've been home.

1. I checked in at work and everything seems under control, I did a bunch of paperwork.  This morning I got the news that one of the laws that relates to my practice has changed dramatically so there will definately be changes in the coming year.

2. Allison talked me into going to the school's Chuck E Cheese night, Allison was amazing skeet bowler (is that what it is called?).  It was noisy and hectic but they really wanted to go.  We got a chance to talk to the principal who said he's been personally working with Mac in a small group, Mac never mentioned this, for the essay section of the FCAT which happened a couple weeks ago and the essay assignment was to write an essay about riding a camel.  We don't get the results until the end of the year.

3. I did the stepper twice and burned about 800 calories each time but I'm feeling a bit heavy.  I did bikram yoga this morning and I feel like I'm way out of shape and practice, its been a week or so since I've been to yoga, I need to get back in there several times a week.   Even though I skied all day everyday of my vacation, I really need to focus on exercising.

4. Allison insisted that I go on a field trip to "play in the dirt" which turned out to be a trip to Myakka River State Park and we saw several very large alligators, lots of water birds including white pelicans, and wild turkeys in the woods.  We walked on a very high wooden bridge and climbed a tower to get a canopy view of the forrest.  The guide had one leg, she joked that it was because an alligator bit it off during a school field trip but then explained that she had cancer and they took her leg to save her life.  She had a really cool artificial leg and the top part of it had sea turtles painted onto it and she shared that she has the same doctor as Winter the Dolphin from A Dolphin's Tale.  I got to talk to her husband for a bit and he told me about their trip to a cancer hospital and the day he got off on the wrong floor, pediatrics, and that we should all just think of that anytime we think we're having a bad day.  Wow.  Crystal Clear Perspective There.  I am doing the Relay for Life Cancer Walk coming up in a couple weeks.  We've known several people in a short amount of time who have been diagnosed with cancer.  I've got to get up to speed with my part in the relay including the fund raising part.

5.  After the field trip, Allison and I went to the Ellenton Outlet Mall which is a bunch of outlet stores, we don't get there very often.  I don't particularly love shopping but my girl Ally does.  She was in heaven in the pre-teen store Justice.  I was still sticker shocked at the prices in Justice, even in the outlet mall.  She got some very fashionable outfits.  We also did some shopping for me, I bought a few work dresses and a few weekend outfits at Tommy Hilfiger and Ann Taylor, I think Allison was a bit unimpressed with the boring nature of my choices - she picked out and had me try on some "fashionable" things but none of them seem to work on me.

6. Allison and I also came up with a plan to reorganize her Barbie play area.  I am right now trying to muster up my gumption to attack that project.  I'm not sure I'm up to it, we'll see.

7. On my Scrapbooking Agenda:

* Do the posts for District 2, District 1, The Capitol, and District 13 for my The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge.

* Catch up on the last 2 weeks of Project Life.

* Get some 12x12 layouts done for the BPC Twelve class I am taking.

* Catch up on One Little Word and Move More Eat Well BPC classes.

* Make a photobook of our three ski trips this year, it has been awesome to take three trips in three months.  I'll be grounded for a while which will give me time to get back to my routine.

8. I would also like to do something with all of my Pinterest Boards.  Specifically, I have a "word up" board with sayings I like and I would like to use those in some way.  Also I have a "homemade" board with ways to alter t-shirts and easy sewing projects and I'd like to do a closet overhaul and make some projects with my old clothes.

9.  I need to tend to the garden we planted a few weeks ago, the marigolds were completely eaten by something but the basil and mint are doing well and we have several sprouts.

10. I'd like to get on my kayak this weekend.

11. I did a major grocery shop and cooked curry chicken and we've been eating leftovers for days, it is delicious.

12. I am re-committing to my goal of losing 50 pounds.  I was doing really well and then too many people gave me compliments and I got lazy and somehow I'm back to only about 10 pounds down from my original weight - which means that I've put on 20 pounds since my lowest weight at 30 pounds down.  I'm a little frustrated since it seems like I have worked really hard for the past two years and that losing weight and keeping it off is a 24/7 hard work constant kind of thing and that I really love to eat and not worry about what I'm eating.  I'm totally fine with a very rigourous exercise routine, but I'm a little less excited about getting super strict with my diet again, but I'm even less excited about how my thighs look right now.  So I'm back on my weight loss goal routine and I'm hoping to make some significant progress by my birthday which is coming up on June 6.  I don't think I'll attain my goal by that time but I would like to get there somewhere over the summer and maintain it until Christmas and beyond.

 

Vacation Scrapbooking: Coming Home

We returned from a week long vacation yesterday.  I had an amazing trip and fell in love with Durango, Colorado, it was my first time to the western part of the U.S. and I'm definitely planning to return as soon as possible.  I took 1023 photos and made 20-30 short videos to remember my thoughts and feelings while on the trip.  I brought along a composition book and a homemade smash book and did lots of journaling on the plane and in spare bits of time during the vacation.  Chances are, if you saw me on the slopes, in the ladies room, or at Dante's for lunch, I was recording a video on my iphone or digital camera or taking photos of myself to record the trip.  During the trip and on the way home, I was fully immersed in this brand new world to me, one of breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, ski slopes that were my wildest dreams come true, fun times with my husband and friends, and an overwhelming desire to move to Colorado, or at least look into buying an investment property out there.  I seriously fell in love.

Now that I'm home, however, scrapbooking the trip is not my top priority.  Top on my agenda list is reconnecting with the kids, doing mountains of laundry, getting the house and my scrapbooking room computer back to the state they were in before I left, catching up with a no doubt mountain of paperwork at the office, reconnecting with the people I work with, getting back to my exercise and weight loss routine, and on and on and on.  There's lots to do after a vacation and typically the scrapbooking of the vacation falls to the bottom of that list.  This is ok since I have my thoughts and photos captured and it will all be waiting for me when I'm ready to scrapbook the trip or at least make a photo book or two.  I'm so happy that I took the time while I was feeling all the wonderful feelings on vacation to record them, I know these thoughts are stored safely in my composition book and on my video shorts so that I can access the full experience of the vacation when I go to scrapbook it, whenever that might be.

(P.S. I am unable to upload photos right now but will add some later.)

Here are 5 links to other scrapbooking sites and blogs on the subject of vacation scrapbooking:

1. Martha Stewart & Map Scrapbooking

2. Debbie Hodge's Get It Scrapped on Vacation and Travel Scrapbooking

3. Debbie Hodge on Ali Edwards' Blog on Story Arcs for Vacation Albums

4. Noell Hyman's Paperclipping Post on How to Make a Vacation Scrapbook

5. Lain Ehmann's Save Your Sanity Ideas for Vacation Scrapbooking

How you do approach vacation scrapbooking?  I would love to hear your ideas or see your projects, please leave a comment or a link.

 

Life Is Good

Good Food.
Good View.
It's a Good Life, A Good, Good Life.

Scrapbooking on vacation & savoring every moment with the peace of mind that I'll be able to remember the feelings and the little details long after I get back home and tackle the mountain of laundry that will no doubt be waiting for me. I'll be able to reconnect with these purple mountains majesty.

Life is Good. Scrapbook it.

Scrapbook Journaling on Vacation

I am on vacation and I am Scrapbooking the trip while I'm traveling. I have a few videos explaining how I'm using my iPhone and digital camera to record some of my memories. I am also using a composition book to write down things I want to remember.

Have you ever scrapbooked while on vacation? What worked / didn't work for you?

P.S. I'm also blogging via my iPhone! Technology is awesome!

The Hunger Games Scrapbooking Challenge Series (Day 8): Panem District 6 Transportation

The Panem Train for District 6 looks a lot like the Disney Monorails don't you think?

The theme for today's Hunger Game Scrapbooking Challenge Series is Panem's District #6: Transportation.   According to Wikipedia:  "District 6 is one of the 12 districts of Panem.  Though never mentioned in the books, according to the official movie promotional page "Capitol.Pn", this district's principal industry is transportation. It was heavily bombed by the Capitol's Air Forces during the Second Rebellion. District 6 is also known to be very unstable, and could be several times larger than even Districts 11 or 2.  Some of the citizens in District 6 are morphling addicts."

I'm going to take the liberty to extend this district's industry of Transportation to include Travel and I'll skip over the morphling addicts bit.  Here are some  layouts about things that go that should help to get things moving:

All of these layouts can be filed in the "Places We Go" Album in the Library of Memories system, here's a little video about how I organize my scrapbook albums:

 

Please post a comment with a link to your page!

Scrapbooking & Blogging from the Ski Slopes!

Scrapbooking & blogging CAN be done on vacation in short easy videos - check out the you tube video for how I am Scrapbooking while skiing!! I'm posting this from the Peace Slope in Colorado - for real!!!

How To Scrapbook on Vacation Video

Check out my new you tube video for how to scrapbook on vacation!!!

Off to the slopes :)