Is she my daughter-in-law or my friend?

      That's the question most people want to know about my relationship with Krista. She IS married to my middle son...but when we scrapbook together, it is a friendship as deep as my other friends. And it confuses my daughter to be at a scrapbook event with us (Slick doesn't crop). No subjects are "sacred" when we are scrapping and we talk about it all. So glad that Mike chose someone I like.
So this summer when she, Patty & Miss Sally traveled to Bolingbrook to go to the scrapbook convention in St. Charles, I had an opportunity to take lots of pictures of her. Well, she was taking pics, but she wasn't in them! I've featured one of them in today's blog.
In the forum I frequent (though my DH would call it "stalking" cause I am on there so much. That's a harsh term..I don't mean any harm. I just can't get enough scrapbooking- - and he did move me away from my scrap friends- - so I have on-line friends. It could be soooo much worse!) As I was saying before I interrupted myself...in Creative Scrapbook Divas, I try to finish as many challenges as I can. This one was called 5 Color Copy Cat. All we had to do was copy (not crop lift, COPY) her layout, but change our 5 colors! Well, I woke up at 5:35 this morning with a need to create..and it was next on my list.
I started with a base sheet of Lily:Sweet Spring line from Fancy Pants. I have a coordinating sheet to do 2nd page with, will try to finish it tonight. I found the picture of Krista standing under a tunnel covered with Clematis vines at Fabyan Japanese Garden. I felt the doodled flowers on the paper reminded me of Clematis. I matted the pic with a yellow paper from Cosmo Cricket and an unknown brown. I really wanted to see the daintyness of the flowers...and always need an excuse to use my exacto blade. 

Some people have craft knives, but my exacto & I have history.  I got it back in high school when I started to do wood carvings and couldn't get my carvings exact with my pocketknife.  It has a plastic handle that fits me like an old pair of jeans.


 So out it came from my holder to trace partially around flowers petals so they would hug the photo.

It' not hard, don't be afraid, it's only paper!  I marked how far down I wanted the photo to go and just traced (we learned to do that in elementary, you know).  

And I finally got to use my new Postage Edge Sixxix Die from Tim Holtz. 

 It's only 5 1/2" long, so it required some repositioning to get it where I wanted it. I inked the edges lightly and glued it under the upper edge of the photo.  

 I needed some embellishments, I think she use brads on each side top left & bottom right.  But I chose to go with some transparency lady bugs from Heidi Grace.

 There was also a a circle transparency with a poem about friends that I backed with blue Daidy D's paper (yes I have had that awhile now...saving it!).  I cut a portion of it off to give the effect of being wrapped around the bottom.  I punched the lady bugs  out with 5/8" circle punch and mounted them on little scraps of leftover paper from mat paper and blue paper.  I popped them on foam dots before adding them in a row on the lower right side of photo.

I needed flowers for the left corner and none of mine seemed to work.  So I cut out some paper that the picture would cover over (remember I only had one pece of this).  A little adhesive magic, popdots, bling, lime green stickles on the large flower, name cut from my Cricut and......

I am very pleased with the result.  Now for those I constantly nag about journaling, I promise it will be on the second page (for you newbies, I almost always do 2 page layouts...just like the way they look when the page is open).  so my next challenge is to do a purple layout.  Mmmmm...Lisa likes purple, sounds like a layout about a BFF!  Some day I'll get around to scrapping about my kids...today I'm enjoying the challenge pages!

Hope you scrap what you enjoy....and keep dreamin'.

Wild Paper

Do you ever find a piece of paper that you just know...I'll never use that in a layout. But you find yourself at an all day crop, ready to do a layout, only to discover that you don't have the right color of cardstock to go with page 2? And of course, you aren't at a store, so let's make do? That would be me, last Saturday. I wanted to post to my Memory-Works site, but they require at least 80% be something bought from them..or at least that they sell. So I dug through the Monstrosity packet from Sassafrass Lass and made a quick decision. (Quit laughing! I can do those!) And I really like the outcome.

I have so many pictures of the twins and Ethan, just normal days, that really make me smile. And sometimes down right laugh at the memory of it. But they don't fit in holidays, swimming,or birthdays. Just funny days with Grandma & Grandpa. And some of these were the last week or so before our move to Chicago-land, they make me a bit teary.

I didn't do anything fancy, except take a chance on the wild black paper. Oh! and I had another page that was the journal blocks and flat embellies. So I found 2 that matched a felt monster and mounted them there.

I think it turned out pretty cute. Grandma loves her some boys.
If you haven't checked out the forum site, Dream Talkin', you should join up. I am trying hard to keep challenges going. I would love to have it be like some of the sites I visit on a daily basis. And I still have space available for the retreat. Everyone needs some time away for quality scrapbooking. Find out the particulars at Dreams & Memories.biz. And keep dreamin'

All About ME!

My layout today, doesn't really have any oohh's & aahh's about it, I just wanted to share it. A few years ago, at the store, I had monthly challenges that were an attempt to get my girls to crop about themselves. Really dive deep into what matters in their lives...favorites, I love, etc. I didn't let them cop out by using their family, cause then they were still "just scrapbooking". It was hard, and I only had a few takers.
I've picked up the challenge in Monday's Memories in our chat room. The first one is simply 'School Days" Here is my submission for this...
In another scrapbook forum, one of our challenges was to do a layout with ALL 26! Alphabets. I had this paper that just screamed "USE ME!!!" So I was able to kill 2 challenges with one stone. This is my first grade picture, the only one I ever liked.


Personal books are all about the journaling (at least mine is). I wanted my grands to know how much I loved school. The journal block is actually a pocket, that I inserted my "1st day of 1st grade" writing page. My mom had kept it all these years (gotta love us sentimental types..)

To keep it from being too boring, I popped up some hand-cut photo corners.


The real reality of this layout is I cut it in half! Yes, in half. I have a 6x12 album that a vender gave me, and I am using it for the all about me items. It's a great book, but I don't know if I can get refills for it.
So, there you have it! Not much on technique, but hopefully I can inspire you to start your own album. Be selfish, make it all about you. Cause, let's face it...you are the only one who knows how you felt on those magical days.
Don't lose your memories...and keep Dreamin'!

I love the mailman!

Well, you can see by the packaging, that I was so excited when my pre-ordered Tim Holtz Alterations Dies by Sizzix came in the mail from Scrap-Mart! I tore right into the package!

As I said, I pre-ordered them from Laura & Howard at Scrap-Mart. They are an on-line company that specializes in the latest die-cutting options out there. I love to go to their site, and just browse! But by pre-ordering, I am sure that I won't be disappointed when Hobby Lobby gets in only 3 dies, and "they just sold the last one to the lady in front of me"! I hate that, don't you? Check them out, you'll find they are not only fast, but up-to-date with the latest.
What, you want to know what I got? Sorry for my rude-ness! I got FOUR dies this time...


The 2 smaller ones are called "On the Edge" dies and I chose File tabs and the Plaque & Postage dies. They can be used to add 5 1/2" edges to our cards or embellies. One of the large one is a Bigz Die called tattered florals. It has 4 different flower shapes, and will really be used alot at my house. Flowers pop up on even some of my guy pages! Went to the car show? It needs a flower!
the last and not least will probably be my favorite Bigz Die yet....It is a HANGING SIGN!! Complete with the "wrought iron" bracket! on the cover, it is shown with eyelets to hang it and the round findings. Oh, I have soooo many ideas for it! You'll be sick of hearing and seeing them!
But you won't see them today. I'm off for my 2 mile walk with Diane, and the hustling home to finish a mini album for a friend who's son & wife adopted a baby boy. But ssshhh! the Grandma shower is a surprise! Don't tell her, or I'll get scolded for not keeping a secret. I'll work some of the new dies into the album, some how, I'm sure!
Hope you gals have a great day, and Keep Dreamin'!
Pam

Retreat is ON!!

Hello Dreamers! Winter is almost winding down, and my S.A.D. is about to go away. All the lights in the world don't help some days. But I didn't get on here to whine, I got on to talk RETREAT!
I finally got us a space...Arrowhead Lodge on the Illinois River north of Tahlequah.
It's a bit rustic compared to the Canyon Camp, but the crop room is awesome! It has full glass walls in front and back with fancy transom windows at the top. Step out on the deck, and you are at the river. And did I mention that it has a FULL KITCHEN! I can whip up all our favorites, without the use of a crock pot! Smell those fresh brownies? I almost can!


The great part is we get to sleep on bunks again! I loved when we were in the bunk house at Dwight Mission. For those who don't like to sleep that way...the lower cost makes it all worth it! Only $125 for this weekend retreat! Because the housing was cheaper, I'm able to give you gals a break and still have great give-aways and goodie bags! It is open to anyone who wants to come...so send me an email as soon as you can. dreamsandmemories@yahoo.com $50 Deposit is due by April 7, which you can pay at Crops-N-Tops in Sand Springs. Pick up a registration form there also or download one off my website(it won't be up till Monday).
I hope we get a good sized group of Dreamers, but there is also fun in small groups. Classes and make-takes will be listed shortly.
I have the end on the beginner's mini album class tonight at Ascension Lutheran in Riverside. I love to teach newbies..cause it is all so exciting to them! And what a great group of ladies over there.
Diane and I are working on getting a monthly all day crop at Good Shepherd going. Hopefully we will be able to kick it off be April. I really havent done too much scrapping..I need a good buddy up here, or 2. They closed the store I love to go to, and I can't make myself support Archivers! Oh well, there I go whining again. I plan to have something scrapworthy on here in the next few days....Pinky swear!
Hope you all get to crop tonight, and Keep Dreamin'!
Pam