Getting Ready for Mother's Day...

I went shopping on Friday and saw this adorable K&Company Photo Cube kit. Everything you need for the project is included in the box, except your photos. I immediately thought it would be the perfect gift for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day since she always loves pictures of her grandchildren! One additional thing I did was that I used Modge Podge on the box before and after attaching pattern paper because I wanted it to hold up a little better. One other quick tip if you buy this kit, trim the paper just a tiny bit so it fits on the blocks without going over the edges that way it will stay in place.

K&Company K*ology Photo Cube Kit

Just add your own pictures ~ Easy Peasy!

AND ~ it too less than 1 hour to make!

Sometimes it's just fun to CASE...

I loved this idea when I saw it on a DaisyD idea card,

so I just had to CASE it!

Supplies: Pattern paper, die-cuts, rub-ons: DaisyD

This page was so much fun & very easy!

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....Hmmmm...what does CASE mean you ask? Well it means, Copy And Share {or Steal} Everything. There are tons and tons of magazines, idea books, and website galleries out there for stamping, scrapping & paper crafting. Things are just begging to be made! I am an idea book junkie {among other things} and I love to borrow ideas or get inspiration from all of these resources. BUT, there is a fine line between stealing an idea for gain or just using it for personal use. The page above was CASE'd from an idea card by daisyd's that was on display at our local scrapbook store. The cards were right there with all the papers and supplies ~ how cool is that? I printed this beautiful picture of my gorgeous girl and then added the elements to the page just like it said on the card ~ fast, easy, beautiful & IT'S DONE! So what am I going to do with this page, besides show it to you? I'm going to put it in my album for my family to enjoy. And that's it! It won't be submitted for publication or shared in a gallery where I pass it off as my original idea.

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As a published scrapbooker and stamper, I share ideas all the time. I enter contests, submit ideas to companies and magazines, and put my ideas on the web all the time. I am honored when someone leaves a comment that they like my work and I find it rather humbling when someone leaves a comment that says, "I have got to CASE this!". However, I find it rather frustrating when my work is CASE'd without credit. So bottom line for the way I do business ~ if you CASE, just give credit where credit is due. If something you saw inspired you, say so! If you copied something from someone, say so! Thanks for listening ~ now go scrapbook or stamp!

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Tips for using Rub-On Transfers: I love to use rub-on alphabets and flourishes. What a fabulous way to add a little something to your page or card right in that perfect spot. They usually come on a whole sheet of transfers that can be used on many different projects. Some of them are VERY sticky ~ like these DaisyD Rub-Ons that stuck to my picture before I was ready! While I was working on this page, I got the rub-on transfer sheet a bit to close to the picture and some of it stuck so I had to print a new picture. The best approach to using these transfers, is to cut out the one image you want to use and then apply it to the correct spot. They are much easier to handle & then something doesn't get stuck down to your picture or layout that you weren't intending.

Yes, I'm still scrappin'

This is how it seems to be for me. I don't scrapbook for months and months and then once I start...LOOK OUT! Cuz then the pages just seem to keep coming and coming and coming. This would be one of those layouts that I put in the category of "Well at least it's done". {Meaning ~ I don't love it, but it's done and in the album.}

Puppy Kisses ~ Cardstock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper,

Ribbon & Embellishments: KI Memories;

Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: Staz-On; Brads: Making Memories

Jaz ~ Cardstock & Chipboard: Bazzill; Pattern paper: Chatterbox

Now this page on the other hand, I LOVE! I adore these pictures that were taken when Jazz was about 9 weeks old. Who wouldn't love that face? {By the way, I only had one "z" for the page, so that's why I misspelled her name ~ there is only one "z" in Jazmine!}

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Photo Printing Tip: A good photo printer and some basic photo editing software are some of my favorite scrapbooking supplies these days! I have a Canon Pixma MP500 photo printer that I love to use for my scrapbook pages. Why do I love it so much:

• It's wonderful to have the ability to print only the pictures I want to scrapbook, AND
• I can print exactly what size I need for each layout.

Yes, it's easy to crop your pictures and make them fit into the space you want. However, sometimes you end up cutting things out that you didn't want to OR you have to cut a little more off than you wanted. Therefore, I like to crop my photos on the computer using photo editing software and then print the size I need. This way my layouts really showcase my photo. Give it a try!

It feels sooooooooooooo good...

... to be scrapbooking again! Now don't get me wrong I love cardmaking and paper crafting of pretty much any kind, but my first love {in crafting anyway} is scrapbooking. Like many others, I started at a home party with a group of friends about 11 years ago. I was addicted at once! I didn't just want to buy a few things ~ I wanted EVERYTHING! I know my close friends will just be SHOCKED by that comment ~ LOL! Scrapbooking gives me so much satisfaction when I complete a layout & it's really what gets me all hyped up!

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Now this page has been a little bit of an experiment for me because I used my computer for the photo collage and the journaling. I bought this wonderful idea book from Creating Keepsakes called Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking. In the book they use Photoshop Elements 5.0 to do all kinds of fun tricks with your photos, journaling, titles, and embellishments. I am determined that I will NEVER completely switch over to digital scrapbooking because I love touching and feeling all the yummy scrapbook supplies. The textures of the papers, ribbons, and flowers pretty much thrill my socks right off! However, I love being able to manipulate text and photos so my layouts POP! So now I am what they call a hybrid scrapbooker, and I'm cool with that! This layout took me forever to complete because I'm still getting the hang of it. I did have a good time learning how to do it, so you'll see more layouts from me in the next 23 days using the software. Why 23 days? Well that's because I downloaded a free trial copy of Photoshop Elements 5.0 and I only have 23 days left until the trial period ends. If you would like to download a copy click HERE.

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Picking Jazz ~ Supplies Used: Paper - Bazzill; Pattern Paper, stickers, ribbon, chipboard letters - KI Memories; Ink - Staz-On Brown; Tag - Cricut Cartridge; Stamps - Hero Arts; Font - Di from Word; Photoshop Elements 5.0.

Say what....It's Saturday?

I know, I know... it's been an entire week since I updated my blog! Where in the world did the time go this week? Among the hours this week spent carpooling, working, helping with homework, piano practices & lessons, cooking, cleaning, 4-H preparations and meetings ~ it once again didn't leave enough time for stamping, scrapbooking or blogging! What's up with that? I'm always so sad when I just don't have the energy to work on my projects in the evenings.

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I want to thank all of you for your very sweet comments on my post last week. I don't normally spend that many hours on a scrapbook page, but I thought this page deserved it. Well, since I'm in the mood to scrapbook lately, I thought I would post a few layouts of our trip to Sea World a few years ago. Our entire family just loves going to San Diego & Sea World is always a must.

Matthew & Tim in the dolphin show at Sea World ~ what an amazing experience

You will see us at all the shows over and over again! Yes ~ I did take all these pictures!

Well I've been working on a new page today using Photoshop Elements. I'll post it as soon as it's done, but it's taking me forever! Frankly, I could have made it by hand a whole lot faster, but I had a free copy of the software & I've been wanting to try it for a long time. Stay tuned!

A page from my heart...

You know what? It's O.K. to scrapbook a page without using any photographs. Sometimes we just have things to say. That's exactly what happened with this page. I have been planning it in my head since last June. I wrote a poem {maybe it's an essay ~ who knows} about my experience with a cancer diagnosis and going through chemotherapy. It was an experience that I will never forget, but I thought it was important to document my feelings as I completed that phase of my treatment. The poem is called "Today I Hate Cancer, but...". I shared it for the first time last month at a Ladies Retreat & decided it was finally time to put in my scrapbook. I know the scan is too small to read so I will include the poem here for you to read.

• Supplies Used: Stamps: Stampin' Up! & Hero Arts; Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Shimmery White & KI Bazzill; Ink: Stampin' Up! Black Craft Pad & Staz-On Black; Other: Prisma Color Pencils, Gamsol, Blending Stumps, Making Memories Beads, Stickles, Glitter Pen.

Today, I Hate Cancer, but …by Kendra Wietstock, June 2006

Today, I hate cancer.
I hate surgery, chemo & doctor appointments…endless amount of doctor appointments.
I hate that I can’t trust my body anymore.
I hate that it has robbed me of so much ~ my hair, my confidence, my trust in the future, my youth
I hate the physical changes it has made in my body
I hate that I am bald & have to wear a wig
I hate that I only have about 10 eyelashes
I hate that I can’t feel good about my body
I hate that I’m 40 and am being shot into the next stage of life
I hate it when people say I’m sick… I’M NOT SICK!
I hate when I hear people whine about how crappy their life is & how mad they are at God for it… If I can deal with it, so can you…Get over it!
I hate that I will have to worry about my daughter getting breast cancer
I don’t feel strong, courageous, or inspirational.
I hate how fragile and uncertain life seems right now
I hate that I will always fear this is going to come back.

Today, I hate Cancer…
but today, I also feel very blessed because…

There is medical treatment for my cancer that will keep me alive
I have doctors & a medical staff who care & my infusion nurses are fabulous
Chemo didn’t make me as sick as I feared it would
My hair & eyelashes will grow back (at least they tell me that)
I have a wig that I like & it’s sassy and I won’t have to use it forever
I have a husband who really cares about me and has never made me feel more loved AND he keeps me laughing. He is my friend and the love of my life.
I have friends and family who love me and
I’ve made new friends because of this experience.
I have learned that life isn’t always fair but your attitude about it is EVERYTHING – you just have to suck it up & move on
I’ve learned you just need to find the good in every situation
Maybe what I’m going through will help my friends, my sister, or my even my daughter – if that is the case, it makes this easier.
My confidence will return in time, I just need to learn what the new “normal” is now
And, my future – well it will just happen right before my eyes.
The part of me that has to plan everything, just needs to let go a little
If I do appear strong, courageous or inspiring – so be it. Maybe it helped someone through their own situation.
In time and with some patience, I will learn how to deal with the threat because I know God is in control and I need to just let him handle this.

I still hate Cancer and I always will…
but today maybe I can see that some good things can come out of this experience.

Thanking the coach...

My daughter just finished her first season of club Volleyball. We started way back in November with tryouts and then two practices a week and tournaments every other Sunday. It was a big commitment, but turned out to be an incredible experience for players, coaches and parents alike. I attribute the positive experience to Megan's coach. A good coach makes all the difference and Coach Frey was fabulous. She hadn't coached the "little girls" {3rd & 4th graders} before, but she is an elementary PE teacher, so she had a great background for it. The girls had fun, they learned {and now love} the game, and they became a TEAM! It was amazing to watch their talent blossom from the very beginning to the end of the season. They all accomplished serving over-hand & many could do that from the back of the court. By the end of the season they were setting, digging for everything and spiking {or at least giving it their best try at it}.

The coach donated all of her time for her team, so we thought it was important to show her how much we appreciated everything she did for our girls. This project was a ton of FUN to put together. The inside includes 3 little envelopes with gift cards to enjoy.

So next time you have a coach who touches the life of your child in a special way, show them you care & appreciate them. Coaches give up a lot of time to share their talents with our children.

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up): Stamps: Treat Yourself & Whimsical Alphabet; Cardstock: Real Red, Summer Sun, Basic Black; Ink: Basic Black Craft & Classic Inks, So Saffron, Real Red; Ribbon: Red Gingham; Punches: Ticket Corner, Slot Punch & Circle Punches; Other: Clear embossing powder, puff paint, chalk (for the butter on the popcorn).

A Day Away....

Megan, Matt, Andy & Alexa

reflecting on the day in Chicago

It's spring break & you know what that means? Mom doesn't get to stamp or scrapbook because she is too busy keeping the kids occupied! We've had some fun, but I'm ready for school to start up again next Monday. On Thursday, my good friend Jenn and I took the kids to Chicago on the South Shore Train to visit Shedd Aquarium. Both the train and the aquarium were packed, but we had a good time. It's a gorgeous facility and it sits on a great spot overlooking Lake Michigan. We had a cold but very sunny day so the kids enjoyed spending a few minutes looking around after we left the aquarium.

A Little Birthday Surprise...

I haven't been feeling very creative the last few days. Tim has been out of town for 10 days and I'm just worn out. Since I haven't made anything new, I thought I would share something I made a few weeks ago. My friend Michelle had a birthday on March 21st so the night before, I decided to make her a card organizer with dividers and a matching card. She loved it, so the last minute preparations turned out just fine. When I have time, I always prefer to give a gift from the heart & my friends and family pretty much know they won't get something store bought from me. I know it takes extra time and effort, but if you give it some thought you can come up with some pretty cool stuff to make.

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper & Ribbon: SEI Winnie's Walls; Tin: Provo Craft; Ink: Staz-On; Ric-Rac: May Arts; Solid Cardstock: Stampin' Up!