still me

live on TV!

live tv freaks me out.
i was on what is called "sonoran living"... it's the 9 am live show on the abc channel here. i thought that it actually went pretty well! a long time ago, we worked on a book at making memories called 'a season of giving'. i love the book... good stuff in there. anyway, i had an idea to create an advent album. the idea would be to have like a tradition-a-day type thing... so that basically i would be forced/gently nudged into following through with the traditions. so, i wanted to carry that idea a little further, and give some really do-able solutions for the concepts. i made a photo album of the pages in the advent album i made 3 years ago... so that you can see all the pages. i didn't ever FINISH it. (typical me)... i want to finish it.

the 2nd idea that i presented was this 'i believe in santa' book. (it's a beautiful children's book that compares santa to Christ--really a great one for the kids) I glued different sizes, and styles of envelopes in the book and the idea is to put traditions in each envelope so that you would open one a day. you could put little stories, scriptures, nice words about loved ones etc. in each envelope. i inked the edges of the pages etc. it turned out so cute.

the 3rd idea was an advent scrapbook... basically i made 24/25 little 'traditions' to do... and created them as a pdf that viewers could download... cut 25 pieces of paper, and foam stamp the date (1-25) on each page. as the day comes, you do the tradtion and take a photo, then add it to the album! looked fun enough that i might even follow through with it.

if you go to www.sonoranliving.com you can download the pdf... you can even view the segment. i was on at like 45 min past the hour, and it's only like a four minute segment. i got this cool mini-poncho thing...(we are not sure what to call it) it's like a cut-off sweater so it just goes over the shoulder. and i got a really cool feather flower pin at anthropologie... so you can check that out. it was the "wednesday" show if you are looking for it. it will only be on there for viewing until next wed. when that current wed show will take it's place.

(glad it's over)-smile!
tonight: getting the tree out.
gasp... i got a few pink tinsel trees from urban outfitters. i will post my trees and my homemade ornaments tomorrow (hopefully)-SO cute.

seeing a dent!

ok... it's after 2pm. i am still in my PJ's... got up this morning and came straight into my studio and started scrapbooking. i am not sure how the kids got breakfast, but they weren't asking me, so i wasn't asking them! the kids have spent all day playing outside and i have just been working away. eric has been shopping online and i think that we watched like 5 episodes of "mythbusters"... not very inspiring, but the fact that everyone is occupied is enough inspiration for me!

so i am starting to see a dent in the stack of pics from the NYC trip! especially with today's contribution of 2 spreads; 5 photos on each for a grand total of 10 photos knocked out today! (and again, it's early afternoon!) thanks for all the comments and compliments! like i said, nothing like a good challenge to get some creativity flowing!

"underground inspiration" uses: photocorners, touch of tape, a"credit card slide", more journaling spots and block letter stickers... i cut them down right around the letter so i could fit more on! cut up a file folder for this layout as well as some edge of an old map. i really do love the subway! almost as much as i am loving the journaling spots!

"family history" is a layout about meeting my cousin that i was separated from due to the divorce of my uncle from her mother. i wasn't really sure how deep i wanted to get on this layout, because there is a lot of thoughts and feelings here.. but i decided simply to make a fun, happy layout that captured what an enjoyable experience it was to meet up again! here i used my own paper... from the LIMITED paper designs that we released at memory trends; more "credit card" stuff (a ribbon slide and a paper slide--they are the ones that say "smile" and "beautiful smile"--also released at memory trends); silhouette shapes under the chipbord letters for the title; ribbon; brads, photocorners, tape and *good news* found more pink jewels! - oh, don't forget the journaling spot!

i think that the journaling spots are my new fAvorite item.

more from NYC

so i am adding 2 more pages to my NYC layout! i usually like to do spreads, and this brings me up to 4 single pagers... but i like it... so it's all good! it's made me feel free to play. that is what i wanted this album to be about.

"remember time together" i did last night- focusing on my favorite color combo: pink & brown. it's pretty straight forward...photo corners, chipboard alphas, rub-ons, journaling spots (no jewels; gasp)i really love this photo of us.

the next one.. i just finished before we left to go to thanksgiving dinner(did it in the time it took for the yams to cook:1hr). i had a shopping bag from my little purchase at HENRI BENDEL - i bought that cute pink (reversible) headband i have on in the photo! Henri Bendel is my favorite department store in NYC. it is a feast for trends and beautiful stuff to buy. i especailly love the accessories/jewelry!
for this layout.. i decided to use the bag as an embellishment... and to mimick the look of the logo, i did the journaling on the *gasp* computer! the bag i got when i made my purchase had this beautiful chocolate colored tissue paper... i was just itching to use it for SOMETHING... so i decided to give the printed background flowers some dimension. i cut the tissue paper into small squares, wadded them up and glued them onto the background. i couldn't resist placing jewels in the centers... i love how it turned out.

there is absolutley no cohesion to my NYC album... but i am loving each page! this is all about capturing the inspiration found on this trip! i have to give so much thanks to JODI... my sweet friend, and buisness manager for taking fabulous photos... i think i mentioned i lost my camera when we arrived... (left it in the taxi)... she took tons of photos... she was a trooper!
i am having so much fun scrapbooking... seems like it's been so long since i just played. that was a good challenge...

by the way... ! i bought 2 HOLIDAY-christmas CD's... i got the soundtrack from "ELF" (hilarious christmas flick) and HILARY DUFF's christmas.....my KIDS LOVE hilary duff! so that was a good purchase... i even listened to them today. i am trying to get excited...shopping online even! ok.
back to scrapbooking! i have 2hours worth of apprentice on TIVO!!

turkey eve

although i have kept up with my 'goal' of scrapbooking a page a day all week from my recent NYC trip... the stack of photos is not really dwindling! and here is yet another 'one-photo' layout- but i like it! i like the unusual color combo: pink, red and split-pea soup green!
the green "dotty" paper (as they call it in AU and NZ) is scenic route. (my FAV- distressing and all! i LOVE it LOVE it). Then from my "range" (another international term!) the 'block letter stickers' and the mini-florals and mini-puffy floral center... more jewels (big surprise-but i am almost out) and more tape... almost as if i can't create a page without it. wink.

hmm, it's only 11:24pm and maybe i have another page in me tonight... since i opted for purchasing unbaked rolls from 'Texas Road House' restaurant... and not baking mine from scratch which is usually my responsibility. (*don't tell martha*) ... rolls and yams are my specialty. 'yams and apples' to be exact. they should really be more of a dessert item! absolutely delicious! i am asked to bring a batch for dinner and a batch to divy up for leftovers!

speaking of martha... so dissapointed no martha apprentice tonight.

cyber planning

this is among the top 3 best photos from the trip! we were all sitting on this bed in our hotel, because for some reason, while sitting on this bed, we could pick up signal from some random guy that has wireless close by! so we could use it for free... we were all huddled on my bed looking up email, and google-ing stores and places that i wanted to check out. liz was noting desired destination on the subway map, so she was the navigator!

i decided for this layout, i would play with a new toy that i have been wanting to try... it's my new outline 'center of attention' aphabet masks. they are so fab. works like the other masks... just alphas. i love this font. first i placed the letters so that the word would frame the photo. i spray painted the hot pink paint onto light pink cardstock. (i LOVE the KRYLON hot shots)! after you use the mask letters, you just replace them on the sheet. this outline font is kindof a "2-fer" cause the part that comes inside the outline is also included, so really you get 2 alphas for the price of one! (there are only 2 outline "i" included, so i just used the inside of one of the outlines... ) i also broke out my only box of pink and white circle chipboard alphas. these come in little black glossy chipboard tubes! (they come in 6 colors). the word "cyber" is from the 'elementary' plastic alphas and layered on top of silhouette shapes. i used a pink ledger journaling spot for this one. it was just a quick one.

tasty morsel!

as promised... here is last night's NYC layout!
i hope you can see it here enough to appreciate this fabulous little find! i am a ROAMER when i go to NYC... i just get myself to a good area, and then wander. this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant gave us such a chuckle... so cute! i really wished it was time to eat when we passed it...but we had just eaten at some boring place!

i used 3 colors of 'skitozphrenic' alphabets: kelly, martha and pink. i used a bunch of different tapes... the wide white w/ pink dots is new "pink cafe". the "nyc" is from the plastic alphabet "fat cat". lots of different photocorners. I LOVE all the photocorners. dang fun. and then one of my FAVORITE items... new at MT was "journaling spots"... basically it's a set of 6 diff sizes post-it notes in a thing (the post-it type adhesive isn't really effective enough to just get stuck to the page, still has to be adhered to the page... but the little pads are so cute). there are like 6 diff. styles.. I LOVE THEM! here i used the rectangle that is under the "nyc" on the left, the circle and rectangle in the middle and the index tab shapes on the right hand page. (this sku is called "frills" pink) add in the obligatory jewels. OH and i used a little chipboard arrow... i love the chipboard arrows.

by they way... i have been using a lot of jewels... FYI... i glue them down caues the adhesive that is supposed to make them "self-adhesive" SUCKS... don't be fooled by that! sorry... i really hope we can ramp that up! it bugs me so bad. sigh. on the other hand, i ENJOY the self-adhesive on all the chipboard and even the plastic alphas... i guess i can't have it all!

so i was "tagged"

well teri fode... here you go! i have to laugh cause in reading teri's blog... i discovered that we have much in common... including the tendancy to stay up much too late creating... and then, in effort not to get 'in trouble' from our spouses, we sneak into bed c a r e f u l not to wake him. ha ha! i always tell him i went to bed waaay earlier than i really did... and he always knows i am lying!! i am sure it is this 'soul-sister' connection that made her want to "tag" me. i have been thinking about this... so ... here it is:

1. 2 names you go by:
1. heids
2. mom

2 parts of your heritage:
1. swedish
2. welch

2 things that scare you:
1. horror movies
2. 2peas (LOL)

2 of your everyday essentials:
1. late nights
2. email

2 things you are wearing right now:
1. velour sweats
2. obnoxiously large pink jeweled ring

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment):
1. andy gibb
2. killers

2 favorite songs (at the moment):
1. switch- will smith
2. a man and a woman- U2

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love):
1. playmate
2. equal dedication to a cause

2 truths:
1. Christ is my personal Savior
2. I underestimate myself

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex):
1. cool/ stylish shoes
2. good teeth smile

2 of your favorite hobbies (aside from scrapbooking):
1. running
2. baking choc. Chip cookies

2 things you want really badly:
1. pavers on my driveway (its dirt)
2. a clone

2 places you want to go on vacation:
1. caymans
2. greece

2 things you want to do before you die:
1. serve another mission
2. live in NYC

2 ways that you are stereotypically a chick:
1. love pink
2. a little dramatic

2 things you are thinking about right now:
1. Christmas shopping
2. training routine

2 stores you shop at:
1. target
2. anthropologie (ok- so I LOOK there mostly)

thanks teri... now i better get going on my NYC layout!
off to a good start!

short week

i had to chuckle at myself... last night i re-read my last entry and i sound pretty sleep-deprived! sorry that i sounded like a freaK! and it seemed like there was a little confustion on the layout that i posted last time.. .that was not QUINCY in the photo! that was a little girl that was also being baptized with Colton and i had photographed all the kids that were getting baptized... so i had that cute photo. her name is McKay... hence the "m". i got such great pictures of Colton in his new suit and PINK tie! i am trying to think of the "perfect" layout for such a special event. working on that...
last night i started scrapbooking my new york trip. got all my photos printed. it's been awhile since i went and got a WHOLE STACK of photos printed...so that was kindof fun! i have gotten in the habit of just printing out what i need at the moment. i started with my favorite (i really do think it's my favorite- or at least a tie for my favorite) place in NYC... ABC carpet and home. when i go i just have to take it nice and slow-never rush. it's total overload! i LOVE the 'stairwell' photo. The entire stairwell, of the 7 story building (well, the store has 7 floors) it's painted this serious orange color, and has that awesome railing. i always love walking up to the next floor and opening the door and being greeted with amazing color, design and beauty! - it's a feast! i could go on and on about it. go there if you can!

on this layout, after i painted the chipboard letters some color concoction that seemed to work, i covered the letters and label holder with a couple coats of UTEE. i used scenic route paper, bazzill cardstock and the "TUESDAY" i cut out from the november calendar that is hanging on my wall. i inked some of the tape to better fit into the color scheme... that sure makes them versatile! the 'ooh la la' is a silhouette word. i got a few questions about the silhouettes... you can check them out in the summer and fall catalogs on the heidiswapp.com website... but we released a bunch at the summer show- all in white; then released a bunch of different colors at the fall show. i am pretty sure the white summer ones are shipping....??? i also used a big orange 'FLORAL'... also from the summer collection- they just started shipping as well. The "abc" is from the 3" box chipboard alphabet; and the "SHOP" is from the 'center of attention' chipboard alphabets sheets... they are self-adhesive.. but after i had painted and embossed them, i pretty much just had to glue them on.-
i have a goal to scrapbook one layout from the NYC trip each day this week... now that i have admitted that out loud, that is all the sudden feeling like a lot of pressure! we'll see! it was such a great trip!

still up...

i haven't posted any layouts in a long time! this is a quick one... house is quiet... and i have been so tired tonight and just totally decided to fight off sleep cause i felt like scrapbooking. i did this layout - just took a few minutes... i snapped this photo really quick tonight for an event tomorrow, and it just made me want to play. new photos do that... i have a bunch of new photos... i even finished a mini book tonight. anyway- my desk was (still is) a big mess, and all this stuff was spread out all over: dark brown cardstock, scraps of scenic route paper, a sheet of pink silhouette flowers and some chipboard letters. it was funny... cause i printed this photo, and while i was printing off the rest that i needed and i set it down on top of all the stuff... i walked away and came back and in this freaky way, as i saw all that stuff sitting together (mind you- it was a major disaster- quincy was the last one "scrapbooking" in that spot!) i totally saw this page in my head. it was so cool! see, i didn't even cut that white border that scenic route has on the bottom of their paper (that you are SUPPOSED to cut off)... on the desk, the white edge was still on and there were a couple of the flowers laying there. so i just whipped it all together. i really love these silhouettes. - (the pink flowers are the silhouettes- and also the circle under the chipboard "m" is a silhouette)- they are acetate diecuts, with a bit of dimensional printing. they have such great layering possiblities. i
i may have gone a little nuts with the jewels! but so cute.
well, i am going to sneak into bed! sweet dreams!

creativity and it's ENEMY: guilt

creativity is such a funny thing.
something you just have no control over. there is nothing worse than a 'creative' to-do list...
for me it usually just comes down to the wire and the creativity kicks in at the last possible minute. i have GOT to figure out how to manage it better... but how?

did have a wonderful creative weekend... kara and janet came into town to work on education planning for next year. we brainstormed and designed classes for consumer shows, independant events, ckus and on-line projects... we had a BLAST. we cruised around to different supply stores (non-scrapbooking) to find materials and possibilities to think outside the box. awesome stuff emerged.. i am excited. usually as i focus on just one thing... i generate tons of ideas but i can't FOCUS on more than one thing...and it's usually NOT the thing that i am SUPPOSED to be focusing on.

but now.. it's monday morning... and i am picking up the pieces of everything that i have dropped the ball on to be creative all weekend... and i feel so OUT OF CONTROL! dang. i have been dragging on laundry... just went to change the laundry this morning and i am thinking what was in the washer had been there since sat. morning... so it totally smelled all moldy. ***GROSS*** i just can't keep up!
and then it sets in... the ultimate CRUSHER of all things creative: GUILT. so much is happening this week. colton is being baptized, cory is student of the week and my folks are coming to town. my to-do list this morning is UGLY.
deep breath... and ask myself... why the heck am i blogging??????????????????????
chuckle.

time to get serious