Scrappin' Again!

It wasn't too hard--I just decided to do it and it was FINE. and FUN. I am working on the family and friends album and the baseball album, trying to get caught up. Since I don't really remember the details of the baseball trips, I have many pages with blank journal boxes. I'll have to go online and get some details from the games and stadiums so I can add details.

In the family and friends album, I have been using the power pallettes and ENJOYING them! The colors and designs are just perfect for quick layouts. Above are the two I worked on this past week--mine and Karen's birthdays. I just really love the coordinated papers and stickers.

Enjoying it again...about damn time.

Just couldn't do it.

I tried. For six hours, I tried to scrapbook. OK. I didn't try that hard. I just busied myself doing other things:

• I organized paper
• I put stickers in pockets according to themes
• I browsed the new catalogs
• I bought some overstock at 30% off
• I helped my sister with her layout
• I ate lunch
  

I did not, however, scrapbook a single thing. When will I be ready? I'm just not feelin' the groove yet.

Back in the Saddle Again

So my sister and I are meeting our usual monthly scrapbooking group for a day of scrapping tomorrow. It's the first time I've even thought about it in a few months--I have not scrapped since some time in February, I believe.
And to tell you the truth, I don't even want to do it tomorrow. I have just been so bummed out lately with Dewey's passing and my mom's declining health that I just don't feel the joy needed for scrapbooking. Work sucks, and this summer is not shaping up to be anything special.
Oh, I know...quit complaining already...
We'll see how it goes tomorrow. But first, I have to face the mess that is the craft room and assemble my bag to take tomorrow. Maybe I can put that off until the morning...

Dewey's gone

Sweet Dewey departed this life yesterday afternoon. I have so many pictures of him, but it will be a while before I can scrapbook them. It feels like it'll be a while before I can scrapbook any kind of pages. This photo shows him in one of his favorite positions: laying on the floor with his head on the bottom of the coffee table. He was taking a little nap, but usually he watched TV in this position.

In a Funk

I know that people scrapbook while their lives are in chaos, but I just can't seem to do it. Between Dewey's getting worse and my mom's situation, I just can't bring myself to be creative. I am, instead, painting the rooms of the house one by one. Tonight I finished the powder room. Last week, we did the kitchen, family room, and master bedroom. I am running out of rooms! And thankfully, I did NOT paint anything this color!!!

Border Swap!

I got these in the mail yesterday--how exciting!! I joined a swap on ScrapShare.com and it was fabulous! Our job was to make a border and one other element using CM materials. The theme was generic (that it could be used on any page). So I made five sets of my border and element and got one of mine back (the green and yellow one second from the right), along with one of everyone else's in the swap.

The borders are all awesome--totally things I would've never thought to make, but I love them all. The colors are great, the shapes are innovative, the quality is amazing.

Swapping is a little bit of pressure. First, I worry that I won't have enough paper to make five sets of something. Then, I worry about the quality of my work--people on ScrapShare are awfully picky when it comes to ragged edges or a bit of tape-runner showing (things I don't usually tolerate in my own work and wouldn't dream of sending along to someone else). But still--I used a nail file to smooth out my edges just in case they were a little too ragged for someone's taste. Oh, my.

Finally, I worry about getting an idea of what to make--what colors do I use? what shapes? when it it enough and not over the top? In looking at the sets I got back, I probably could've used another pattern or color in conjunction with my border, but oh well, I like to keep things simple.

I haven't been doing any scrapping lately. Things are still out of sorts with Dewey and my mom, and I just haven't been in the mood to scrap.

Yard Sale!!

I fed my paper addiction by going to the local scrapbook store's annual Yard Sale. In their back room, they set out used stuff that customers have brought in to sell. I got a ziplock bag full of old CM and Mrs. Grossman's stickers, a set of letters (not one was missing--a rarity), and a HUGE ziplock bag full of 12 x 12 paper. Oh, and I even got a CM file folder for only $5. I realized, post-manic phase, that this folder does not hold 12 x 12 paper, which is sort of a bummer. It is well-used, too, so I'm pretty sure I can't sell it on eBay. Oh well, I will find some use for it.

I'm heading to Pennsylvania for a few days, so there will be no scrappin' going on. And when I get back, I'll be busy making baby shower invitations for an old friend of mine. We registered today at Target and Burlington, and BOY did we have fun! My vast experience as Aunt Jann, auntie extraordinaire to 6 children, helped us immensely--ha!