All About Me

Now, most of us scrapbookers end up behind the lens and unless we make it a point to include ourselves in our pages and in our work, we are a missing piece.   I've attempted to do an album for a while now, with little success "all about me."   I haven't given up on that project, however, I have completed the project on a smaller scale.  I thought I would share.

On each little card (the ones I showed here are still blank) I filled in something about me.  It might be a little known fact, something I love, something I don't like or even a "secret."  I used photo's, journaling, images and some embellishments.

I used the CTMH My Creations Memory Game (Z1614 $9.95) as the foundation for the project.  The memory games comes with 25 chipboard coaster/cards, but I used 15 of them (2-sided) and made another project with the left overs (to be posted soon!).  This allowed me some space for some embellishments that were not completely flat and room to add a folio or two on those more "juicy" facts about me....  hee hee.

Other products used:
CTMH Adhesive Gems (Pearl)  Z1336  $2.95
CTMH My Acrylix Stamp Set AUTHENTIC  D1401  $17.95
CTMH Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad (Chocolate) Z2111 $5.25 (and inking tool by TH/ Ranger)
Paper Roses from www.wildorchidcrafts.com
Say It With Pearls embellishment from Want2Scrap
Paper used is from the girls' paperie by Margie  "paper girl"  (not sure if it is still available...came from my abundant stash)  here is the website just in case:   www.thegirlspaperie.com

I think this a great way to share a part of ourselves with those who love a care about us!

Hugs!
Debbie

Testing... testing...

A follower notified me that they are unable to leave comments.   If you read this, please leave a brief comment so I can follow up if this is a blog issue or not.  If you are unsuccessful, I would appreciate if you could let me know via email at scrap4therapy@aol.com.

thanks everyone!

Deb

Let's Get READY.......

For a new year filled with creating!   I have lot's planned in my mind and even scheduled on paper.... see dates soon.    I also did my first newsletter as well.  I will be having a open house in January to launch the new catalog (LOVE it--- so many great papers and new stamp sets I NEED).   There will be several make and takes and inspiration, and also even some ready made projects for purchase (mini-albums, full size albums, card bundles and other misc items).

As you know, I do love CTMH, but my addiction to this hobby goes far deeper, so many of my projects involve additional lines from many manufacturers.  

There is a fab special going on right now with CTMH... see below.   You can get an awesome stamp set (E size which is an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet) AND the My Creations Collage Cubes (new catalog).   I can see some awesome projects coming from this!  

ALSO, IF YOU ARE THE FIRST TO BOOK A HOME GATHERING WITH ME FOR 2012 YOU WILL GET A SPECIAL GIFT FROM ME IN ADDITION TO YOUR HOSTESS ENTITLEMENTS! 

Happy New Year everyone!   If you are looking for something to do, join us full blown addicts at Laura Dennison's UStream (following the paper trail) on New Years Eve and Kathryn's UStream (live on the scrap beach) for the hang-over party the next day!  See links for both sites on my sidebar!

Deb

The Scariest Moment of 2011!

I must start with the back story.   When I turned 45 (almost 2 years ago) having had pretty good vision my whole life, I had a moment of slight terror when trying to focus on something, I could not.   I recalled scenes from a movie when the main characters vision goes wonky and come to find out they have a brain tumor.  Needless to say I was in my eye doctors office pronto!    I love her.   She is close to my same age and whether true or not, she humored me by saying I made it longer than most before the "dreaded over 40 vision changes" struck.   Lucky me.   My vision wasn't bad enough to be able to buy the ever stylish (as a friend of mine calls them) "cheater" glasses that are sold most everywhere, but it was bad enough to need something, and since my eyes are both different prescriptions..... I got to pay $ for another pair of glasses.   It was that or switch to progressive glasses and spend my days in perpetual nausea from vertigo!   No thanks.     FAST FORWARD.......


My bathroom has bad lighting which isn't good for aging eyes and beauty routines, so I asked for a magnifying-lighted mirror.   The good news---- I got it!   The bad news--- I got it!   

My scariest moment of this year to date was about one hour ago when I gave that thing a test run!   Good Lord!   To those of you who call yourselves my friends.... why did you not tell me to run... NOT WALK to the closest place offering facials.... and eyebrow shaping too!   The good news......  no chin hairs.  My dear friends who have travelled down this magnified/lighted mirror path before me tell me that's the next joy to look forward to!   

Merry Christmas everyone and may you not have any scary moments for the remainder of 2011! 

Dishes & Happy Thanksgiving!

Dishes.   I love them.   I collect them.   I love new dishes, but I must admit, the ones I have inherited and collected intrigue me the most.   My Thanksgiving table is set this year with  my grandmothers china.  I have my own personal memories of eating many Thanksgiving dinners off of them, but also fun big family breakfasts with all the breakfast food that is so not good for you, but oh so yummy (can we say BACON???)!

These dishes trigger my own memories, but they also take me down a path of wondering about their life and service before I met them.   When my mom and my aunt were a little girls and young women, what memories get triggered for them.  Fortunately for me, I can still ask both of them, and journal it, and of course, scrap about it!   But I don't stop there.   I know my grandmother and grandfather got these dishes at their wedding.   What sort of dinners and holiday's were these dishes apart of way back then?  Unfortunately for me, I can't ask about those, and when I could, I wasn't really thinking about it.   A good lesson to remember as we are with family and friends, ask what we want to know, push ourselves to think about what we might want to know in the future and ask!   Take advantage of our time together.

My musings are not just about my personal connections to dishes and serving pieces, they expand to those I pick up because I like them.   They provide me with the opportunity to imagine the grandest of experiences, and sometimes, even the simplest.   I wonder about the people who ate off them, what they thought about them, if anything, and what the conversation was at the table. 

If you really think about it, dishes are amazing in that, if treated well, they can live through so many generations and be a part of so many stories.  I suppose this is where the famous phrase "if {walls} could talk" came from.   In this case...... " If dishes could talk."

Wishing all of you love and memory filled Thanksgivings.   Enjoy your day, your dinner and most of all, the time you spend with those you care most about!

 Ah.... I almost forgot, the name place card is a project I have followed from Kathryn from Life on the Scrapbeach.   I joined in with her last year on the same project and I (as well as my family) loved the result.   It is still fun to read what we highlighted as what we were thankful for (especially my nephew who said he was thankful for water cause you need it to stay alive!). 

Love
Debbie            

I'm baaaack!

Wow, time really flies when you are making many, many baby albums!   I even successfully You Tubed one, and now I just have to figure out how to get it from the camera to the computer.   I've done it before, but it keeps stalling on me this time.    I'll figure it out though.    I will post photo's as well later tonight.   I'm really excited with how they turned out.   I gave one already and it was well received.   The other two will go out in November so until then, I will most likely be fussing with them, adding things here and there. 

I am planning a PJ Crop Night in October..... watch for info.........   COMING SOON!

Deb

Art Philosophy Cricut® Collection

Welcome to September!

September always reminds me of the onset of my favorite season- FALL (well Spring is a close second).  This month CTMH offers a lot of great buys and celebrations.   The Stamp of the Month is awesome and if you spend $75+ you can get the double stamp set below FREE!    I am encouraging everyone to check out the Cricuit Cartridge and Bundle for $99.   It has over 700 images and coordinates with many CTMH stamps!  How awesome is that!   I have a Silhoutte, but was lucky enough to aquire the cricuit from a pal who upgraded their machine.   I am super excited to get my cartridge so I can start playing.   If you have consdidered getting it, this is a great month to do it because you will automatically reach the $75 amount and qualify for the FREE double stamp set. 

I will be posting soon about my September Workshop!   Stay tuned!

I hope everyone enjoys this Labor Day weekend!  Blessings!
Debbie

Gathering Tomorrow!

I'm doing a gathering for a friend tomorrow and have some fun projects lined up!   My photo's below aren't turning out well due to some lighting issues, but I am going to post 'em anyway!    She chose to feature the Roxy collection so that is what we will be using for our take home projects.  

I love the Roxy collection because it is so versatile.   I did a Christmas layout and an all occasion card (the ended up looking more like a Valentines card), and there is so much more you can do with it!  The layout features a hidey pocket for journaling and more photo's and the card features a lot of paper distressing using one of my favorite tools, the Distrezz-it-all!   More coming soon!
Debbie

Wow!

Ok.... It has been a REALLY long time.   Despite my lack of posting I have been scrapping my  head off.   I have made several baby albums and multiple pages and projects for upcoming CTMH gatherings.   Speaking of CTMH the new catalog is out!   There are some great new products and some new ways of presenting some of the regular faithful products. 

To follow up on my last post, we finished the bedroom re-do for the most part.  Still adding some finishing touches and deciding what to do with some items my son is not quite ready to let go of, but doesn't need totally accessibility to. I'll post a pic of the new updated "pre-teen-ish" room soon.

I am posting a recently completed page using CTMH products.   Everyone knows I love CTMH, but I am in no way a purist to any specific brand.   The page below does use all CTMH products though.   I used the Elemental Paper Collection as well as the Elemental Compliments (chipboard accents).   I also used the Ten Things My Acrylic stamp set which I love.   There are so many ways you can use it!

Some of you know  my dad passed away 2 and a half years ago.   Since then I have been paralyzed when it comes to scrapping anything related to the last year he was alive.   I have gathered supplies, paper etc for several projects "I plan" to do, but have not done them.   I especially cannot do the last Christmas as he passed away the January right after.   Anyway, I have been able to do some smaller things honoring him using my hobby/craft in a truly therapeutic way.   This layout is one of those things.......

 
I hand wrote on the numbered tags things I miss about my dad.  It turned out to be very easy and they just kept flowing.   I continued on a separate paper.  

I will post some other projects tomorrow that I will be doing on Sunday at a gathering I am doing.   Those projects feature the Roxie paper collection, Mischief paper collection, Love Life stamp and the Stamp of the Month, Wicked!   

Take Care Everyone!
Debbie

Where has the time gone?

Wow! I can't believe it is almost mid-July!  The last few weeks have slipped by!  To be honest, I have not done a lot in the scrap room lately.   I've been working with my son to re-do his room.   We've sold furniture, purchased furniture, painted, bought bedding, bought a new mattress tonight and hopefully after this weekend we can put it all back together and call that project done!   It has been fun picking things out with him and seeing his taste.  I'll post a pick when it is all done.   It is definately no longer babyish, or even little boyish.   It is definately pre-teenish for sure.  

I'm still working out my YouTube situation so I can post the You and Me album as well as another project I have been working on.   After the bedroom is complete.... .

Take Care
Deb

Checking in.....

Hi !
Whew!  I've been busy lately, a little scrapping, and a lot of everything else.  

My foster daughter is getting ready to move back home to her mom so I've been working on her album of her last year with us (not to mention packing up A LOT of little girl stuff).  As the day get's closer to her "moving day", I find myself taking more and more pictures, so as you can imagine... I will be working on her album until she pulls away..... and perhaps even beyond.  It's emotional, of course but I pray that her mom can stay healthy in mind and spirit and continue on her path to healing.  We plan to stay in touch as we did previously (this is her second stay with us) and be a support to her and her mom.

I'm also working on a baby album for my supervisor at work.  I think I have done more work on my You and Me Mini album since I lasted posted as well, but  the best way to show these  is through YouTube.   Here is the prob:  I know how to make a YouTube video and even have a channel.  I just haven't figured out how to link them yet!   I told you I am lacking in my techno-skills!  I'll figure it out eventually!

I have some time off work next week so I hope to get some scrapping, lots of organizing and have some fun with  my son (hopefully poolside)!   Here's to a great week to us all!

Deb

Cards for Troops

Hi Everyone!
I finished my 3 designs for the cards I am sending to support 10 year old Stephen Goodman's idea of sending a card to each and every service person overseas.  This project is being supported by Bazzill Basics Paper.  See links above to find out more.   My cards are very simple and I was a little bummed that I didn't have more red/white/blue or patriotic paper than I had.   Everything I used was from my stash and although I would normally jump at the chance to buy new products..... I didn't have time and I wanted to get started. 

Making cards has never been my strong point, and I must admit, these look much better in person, but still, I was inspired by a ten year old boy to make a difference and so here you have it!    I have included in each of the cards I made (I made multiples of each design) a sentiment and my own thoughts and words of gratitude for the sacrifices made by these men and women.   Off to the post office tomorrow!    Also, I'm working on another YouTube video..... just have to figure out the linking and all the tech-y stuff.   I did mention how I am NOT at all Tech-y didn't I?    Have a great weekend and share some joy!   

Deb

Make A Difference

Purchase the You and Me kit for $15 (retail value $34.95) during the month of June and a portion of the sales will go to the Red Cross 2011 Floods & Tornadoes Operation.   You can purchase the kit from my CTMH site to the right, or from your local consultant.

The kit is one of my favorites with an awesome stamp set, embellishments and paper included.   You can the mini-album I made with some of the papers in an earlier post. 

Better yet, you can use the kit to create cards to send to those affected by these unpredictable and devestating storms.  I have found the "scrapping community" to be full of heart and this is another way to share!   

Speaking of sharing, please go to http://scrapadabadoo.blogspot.com/ to read about another way to share your talent.   On one of my favorite Ustream shows (Kathryn from the Scrap Beach) shared a young mans dream to send cards to EVERY SINGLE MILITARY PERSONNEL oversea's.  Not a whole group, but every single one.   On Barrie and Carol's website from Scrapadabadoo, they provide the details and the address to send cards you want to contribute to this cause.  Take a moment to say Thank You to those who risk everything so that America and all of us who live here, can remain safe, free, and have the opportunity to live life fully. 

And the WINNER is.......

ELLY!    Thanks to Random.org we have a winner!  Elly, you have the choice of one of two CTMH My Acrylics stamp sets.

The "You and Me" stamp set.....            -OR-

The February stamp of the month "Friendship"

Send me an email Elly with  your preference and your address:   Scrap4Therapy@aol.com

Next drawing will happen at the magic 25!    Congratulations Elly!

10's the magic number.....

I'm doing a little giveaway to get my blog going..... when I have 10 subscribers I will do a random drawing and give out a prize!   Tell your friends!

A Busy Weekend!

I was busy this weekend, crafting my little heart out.   I finished one complete project and started another.   For my first project I followed a blog tutorial by Tresa Black, aka The Stamping Goddess.   Check out her blog and her You Tube channel for the 5 part tutorial (her link is to the right and is called Fabulously Artsy).   She is a total kick and has great creative and fun idea's.   This is my version of her mini album using the the CTMH three ring binder and the Lucky paper collection.  The binder comes with 5 dividers which are used to make the different types of pages.  They fit perfectly in the binder (not too bulky, but not flat either).   I love this project and can't wait to make another with another paper collection.   I have some great idea's for some different pocket pages! My pics uploaded out of order, but most all the pages are here (along with the cover).

My second project uses the You and Me paper pack.   I just love this set and made another mini album.   I took apart a policy envelope I had (the same size as a #10 business envelope but opens on the side instead of the top) and used it for a template.   I then used three pages from the collection to make envelopes.  I made a front and back cover out of heavy weight chip board, covered them with more paper from the collection, embellished and bound it with the cinch.   I plan to add photo mats, photo's, some stamping and journaling to complete the project.  You could add as many pages/envelopes as you wanted, and actually, I will be adding some single pages and tags as I go along.   I'll post more pics when I am completely done.... only no guarantee when that will be!   Enjoy the pics!

There you have it.  One busy weekend of scrapping (well not including the 5 hour break on Saturday where we attended the end of the little league baseball season pool party in the rain)!    You can get all of these same products from your local Close To My Heart consultant, or you can order from the link on this blog (to the right)  or just call me if you are interested!   I would be happy to host a workshop on the project or have  you over for a day of scrapping!

It's raining..... in June!

Okay, so it is June and it is raining!   My son's last baseball game of the season was cancelled/rained out.... but we are getting ready to go to the end of the season pool party.  Yep, that's what I said, pool party... in the rain.   Who woulda thought?!     

Anyway, the rainy weekend provides the perfect opportunity to stay in and create.  Let's do an impromptu scrappin' day at my house!  I got the coolest little invention from CTMH today....  flip flaps.... they can extend your layout in the most perfect way.   I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.    I will post a link to my Close To My Heart page so you can get some of your own to play with.  I know you'll love them too!   Just in case the link doesn't work, you can go to:
www.deblignell.myctmh.com  


Whatever you do, enjoy the weekend!

Scrappin' is for Everyone!

Just to prove scrappin' is for everyone, Oliver joins the party, and to top it off, he is the first guest!  Gotta love the family support!  

Super FAST & EASY Layout!

It doesn't get much easier than this! 

One sheet of 12x12 paper, a stamp set, ink, half a sheet of cardstock, and a sticker sheet!    I used 1 piece of paper from the Splendor collection as a backgroud paper.   I also used only a couple of the stickers from the Wings Stickease Assortment (4.95).   I used the Happy Birthday stamp from the For Every Occassion stamp set (22.95-- I use it all the time, so it has been a great investment!) and of course, my photo's. 

Sometimes I love to do elaborate pages, but most of the time I prefer a cleaner look in my albums (my mini-albums are another story entirely).  I also like it when I can start and complete a page relatively quickly.  This is definately one of those pages!  

I did use foam dots behind the pocket at the top to hold my small journaling tag.  I placed it near the top so you can still access it, even when the page is in the page protector.   Hope you enjoy! 

Let's Scrap Together!

I would love to show you some great new ideas and have some fun scrapping!  There is a great kit available during the month of May (National Scrapbooking) for $15 when you spend $50 with an awesome stamp included.   You can also purchase the kit at it's regular price.   I really love it.   The papers, embellishments and especially the stamp set.   I know it is one I will use A LOT!    If you are interested in having a gathering, drop me a line and I will be happy to share Close to my Heart with you!

National Scrapbooking Month Promotion

A Fun Workshop is on it's way.....

Hello!

I just completed my first Close To My Heart gathering which was really fun!  Of course the company of my friends made it even more so.   We are going to be starting a monthly/semi-monthly worshop group (details to follow) and I am also going to be filling in with Special Projects Workshops.   A sneak peek at the first Special Project is pictured above (date of workshop, and kit cost will be posted soon)!   We will be using the recipe/file box from CTMH and the Miracle paper pack.   In addition to the box, we will be making 2 cards which fit beautifully in the box so if you are anything like me and are not organized enough in the kitchen to be able to file recipes, the box works great for just about anything.   We are embellishing with my some of my favorite designers/suppliers things as well.   I will post the entire contents of the kit soon, but for now, enjoy a picture of the decorated box.   Also, I would like to add, while the majority of supplies are coming from CTMH, the side paper-punched embellishment was inspired by a style Laura Dennison often uses in her work.   See my favorite blogs to visit her website Following the Papertrail. 

Here We Go!

Ok, here we go.  I just signed up with Close To My Heart as an independant consultant!  I'm excited to start this new adventure which will open the doors to a whole new line of product.... like I really needed that!   Seriously, I am excited to incorporate more stamping and to see where this goes.   I'll never be a "purist" of any one brand, but isn't that what makes the art of scrapbooking and paper crafting exciting?