Feeling Scrappy!

Sweet Summertime!

2010-07-11T16:55:00.001-04:00

We are taking the summer off but will be back this fall with some new classes and of course a brand new sketch class. Enjoy your summer!

Sketch Challenge

2010-05-06T07:01:00.001-04:00

Everyone loves sketches, right?

Sketchapalooza 6 began on Monday the 3rd and I'm so inspired by all the creative layouts that are being posted that I wanted to share an all new sketch with everyone. If you haven't signed up for Sketchapalooza 6 , it isn't too late......we are currently on sketch #2 and it is a work at your own pace class. (Remember in the class you would also get this sketch in a Photoshop layered template.)

Give this sketch a try and post your layout on our Feeling Scrappy Facebook site.

My example:

Happy Scrapping,

2010-04-27T07:01:00.000-04:00

This is a favorite family recipe! We have it almost every Mother's Day as a special treat.

Almond-Cream Strawberries

2 pints large strawberries

1 3-3/4-ounce package vanilla-flavor instant pudding and pie filling

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy or whipping cream, whipped

1 teaspoon almond extract

1) Cut stem ends of strawberries. Cut a deep "X" in the tip of each berry and gently spread apart to make petals; set aside.

2) Prepare instant pudding as label directs EXCEPT use only 1 cup of milk. With wire whisk or rubber spatula, gently fold whipped cream and almond extract into prepared instant pudding.

3) Spoon cream mixture into a decorative bag with large writing tube. Pie cream into strawberries. Refrigerate if not serving right away.

Approx. 200 calories per serving. Serves 8.

Since we like this so much I've adapted the recipe using 'diet' friendlier ingredients:

Low-Fat Almond-Cream Strawberries

2 pints strawberries

1 package of Fat-Free Sugar-Free vanilla-flavor instant pudding and pie filling

1 cup Fat-Free Milk

1/2 container of Fat Free Cool Whip

1 teaspoon almond extract.

Make as above.

Also great as a dessert parfait with other fresh fruits. Some of our favorites are raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. So YUMMY!

Enjoy!

Congratulations!!

2010-04-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

And the winner is .....

Congratulations to Lisa on winning a spot in Lain Ehmann's LOAD challenge! Not only is Lisa going to enjoy the company of many inspirational and motivational women, and a few Hugh Jackman sightings, she will be well inspired by the 20+ sketches she will receive as a participant in Sketchapalooza6! What a great head-start to 31 days of layout making.

(Lisa, check your in-box for a note on how to join LOAD)

Thank you very much to Lain for holding a spot in your very popular challenge for one of our Sketchapalooza6 participants, we're sure Lisa will love it. And, many thanks to everyone here at Feeling Scrappy who has joined in the class, it's going to be a blast!

Jayne, Becky, Tracy and I are so looking forward to the start of class on May 3rd. If you haven't joined, what are you waiting for? We're looking forward to a great month of inspiration, support, motivation, games, ideas and stories! Aren't you?

Click here to join the class!

Scrapbooking Recipe Challenge

2010-04-15T07:01:00.003-04:00

I admit it, I've been in a scrappy funk. One of the best ways for me to get back into scrapping is to take on a challenge. I've made a Scrapbook Recipe Challenge to inspire and jump start your creative juices for the upcoming Feeling Scrappy Sketchapalooza 6! Please post a link to your completed layout or post on the Feeling Scrappy Facebook page.

Here's your Recipe : (Make a layout using the following four products)

1 Cardstock sheet
2 Pattern papers
1 Journal die cuts

1 lace, ribbon or other fiber

3 decorative elements (buttons, flowers, etc.)

1 decorative border (punch, torn edge, etc. Does not have to be used the full width of the layout)

I look forward to seeing your layouts!
Happy scrapping!

Contest Reminder!

2010-04-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

Only one day left!

You have until 5:00PM Eastern to register for Sketchapalooza 6 AND qualify for an opportunity to join Lain Ehmann and her delightful group of LOADsters for the month of May.

Check this post HERE for the details.

Happy Wednesday! What are your plans for the day?

Pineapple Bars

2010-04-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

I have a really easy recipe for you today! I love that I can keep the ingredients on hand and that I can whip this up in no time. (It would also make a great recipe for kids just starting to cook.) And on top of that - this recipe is low cal and it tastes good :)

Pineapple Bars

1 box Angel Food cake mix
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple in juice

Mix the 2 together by hand (the batter will be a bit frothy) and pour into a 9x13 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

*For those on weight watchers: cut into 16 servings and each will be 2 points

Here's YOUR chance to WIN!

2010-04-09T12:00:00.001-04:00

Win what?

If you sign up to join Sketchapalooza 6 before April 15th you have a chance to win a sport in Lain Ehmann's LOAD challenge running the entire month of May!

In turn, if you join LOAD before April 15th you have a chance to win one of two spots in Sketchapalooza 6, running at Feeling Scrappy from May 3rd through May 31st.

Are you interested in completing 31 scrapbook pages done in 31 days?

If you area like me, you have plenty of layouts in various stages of completion and many ideas you want to capture forever. Between the 20 sketches being offered at Sketchapalooza 6 and the motivation provided in both the Feeling Scrappy and LOAD communities, this can be a very productive month of May!

Why don't you have a listen to Lain, she can tell you all about LOAD:

So, print your photos, get your adhesive, organize your supplies and start thinking about getting your pages DONE! Be sure to enter for your chance to win a free spot by APRIL 15th!

I can't wait to see you, in both :)

Grilled Halibut with Salsa

2010-04-06T07:01:00.001-04:00

This is a family favorite for an easy festive meal.

Grilled Halibut with Salsa
serves 6

ingredients:
2 T. olive oil
2 T lime juice
1/4 t. Tabasco sauce
2 lbs. fresh halibut fillets (I've also used halibut steaks)

Salsa:
1-1/2 cups tomato, diced
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
3 T. Canned green chilis, diced
2 T. white wine vinegar
3 T fresh cilantro leaves, minced
1 T. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Marinating time 2-4 hours. Preheat oven to broil or prepare grill.
*Combine olive oil, lime juice and Tabasco. Place fish fillets in a non-reactive pan large enough to hold them in one layer. Pour marinade over fish, cover and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.

*For salsa: combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Stir well. Cover and refrigerate 2 to - 4 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.

For broiling: Adjust oven rack 4-6 inches from heat.
For Grilling: preheat grill to 375-400 degrees.
Place fish on grill or broiler pan and cook 10 minutes per inch of thickness, or until fish flakes easily with a fork, turning once. Serve immediately with salsa.

Weekend Album Project

2010-04-03T05:00:00.005-04:00

For many of us this weekend marks the end of activities and the start of another. For our family we have just finished hockey and volleyball seasons and are about to start: football, softball, rugby and dragon boat seasons.

This week I worked on a project for one of the players/coaches on Cole's hockey team as they are moving away. The dad was one of the coaches and a his son, a fellow defenceman who enjoyed just this one season with the team. We are unable to attend the big "going away" bash for them tonight. What were we to do? A gift was in order, but a bottle of wine didn't seem enough for all of the hours and hours of together over the course of the last 10 months! So, I did what I know how to do:

I made an album!

Lucky for me, as team photographer, I had oodles of shots from which to choose, but because I don't have permission to post their photos, I'll just outline what I put together.

The perfect simple, quick and inexpensive project.

This is how it came together:

Cover Page: Photo of Subject, in this case, pee wee hockey player :)
Page 1-2: Team Photo (top) Team Roster (bottom)
Page 3-4: Off Ice Conditioning Photos
Page 5-6: Social Events (in this case summer party and garage sale)
Page 7-8: Season in Review (tournaments, regular season and playdowns with all stats)
Page 9-10: Team Photos with trophies
Page 11-12: Team Photos with trophies
Page 13-14: Lined Card (top): My memories of this season with the Oakville Rangers for player with a photo of player bottom
Page 15-16: Lined Card (bottom): My memories of this season ... for coach with a photo of coach on top
Page 17-18: Lined Card (top): My memories ... for mum with a photo of mum below
Page 19-20: Photos of player
Page 21-22: Photo of player (top) Game, loop and rule details (bottom)
Back Page: Quick personal note to the family from us!

A few notes on the project:

In the case of this album I used a Creative Memories PicFolio. The sleeves are a big bigger than your 4x6 photos, so each had to be mounted on a 4.5x6.5 piece of cardstock. All stats and information was typed onto 4x6 Bazzill white cardstock and also mounted to create consistency.

The colours used were Red, White and Blue which were the colours in the Ranger uniforms. The font used was American Typewriter because it's my current favourite :)

Total supplies used:

1 album (you can reduce the cost significantly by using a simple slip-in album you can pick up at the drug store, I just happen to have OODLES of Creative Memories supplies to use up!)
1 sheet Bazzill white cardstock
8 sheets Bazzill red cardstock (4.5x6.5 is a brutal size!)
Thickers for title
24 Photos (all extras tucked behind mounted photos)

The beauty of this kind of album is that, due to it's construct, there is not enough space for a lot of embellishments. I really prefer a streamlined and clean album and this kind just forces you not to stray too far from that idea. Plus, it adds to the quick part!

As for the time it took: From choosing the photos (from the over 2500 I took this season!), to getting all of the statistical data on the internet, to printing the photos, defining the sequence, typing, cutting and pasting this project took a total of four hours to complete, start to finish.

What a sense of accomplishment when it was finally done. Not only that, but when I delivered it on Thursday, the look on Marilyn's face - and the tears in her eyes, let me know that it was the perfect gift.
So much better than a bottle of wine!

If for no one else, I encourage you to put this kind of album together for your little athlete! Time goes by so very quickly!

Have You Signed Up Yet?

2010-03-31T07:01:00.002-04:00

You don't want to miss the biggest scrapbooking event of the Spring! Feeling Scrappy's Sketchapalooza 6 begins May 3 and runs through and runs through May 31st. You'll get an amazing 20 sketches (plus the digital templates if your a digi-scrapper) for only $25. All of this in a private class forum filled with support from the design staff and class participants. Jayne, Lee, Tracy and I are all busy working behind the scenes to make this a wonderful class. Just click here to sign up now!

Baked Ham & Eggs

2010-03-30T05:00:00.001-04:00

This has become one of our favourite weekend meals. It meets my criteria: easy to make, easy to clean up and tasty. Even better, it's flexible for the little crowd as you can always add a bit of food colour and voila - green eggs and ham! Add an English Muffin and you've got yourself a breakfast sandwich. I've been making this for my kids since I saw it on CanadaAM late last fall and it is a hit every time!

To make 6 servings:

6 round paper thin slices of deli ham (about 8 oz total)

6 large eggs

2 tbsp whipping cream or 18% cream

1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

1/3 cup finely diced Gruyère or Swiss Cheese

Grease 6 metal muffin cups or 1-cup ovenproof ramekins and line each with 1 slice of ham to create cup.
Crack egg into each ham cup. Drizzle cream evenly over eggs. Add salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese.
Place muffin sheet on cookie sheet and place in 400*F oven until whites are just set but yolks are still a bit runny. This takes about 12 to 15 minutes depending on your oven.
Serve and enjoy.

Oh, you might want to run a knife along the edges to loosen the ham. Then serve and enjoy!

Make sure you have on the table: ketchup, hot sauce, sliced tomatoes and extra Gruyère. Serve with English muffins, bagels and steaming hot coffee.

2010-03-25T12:32:00.004-04:00

I have been lucky enough to participate in all of Feeling Scrappy's Sketchapalooza classes to date. I can't begin to tell you how inspiring the class is. I personally accomplish so much during the class! During this self-paced class you will receive 5 sketches a week for 4 weeks. Yes, that is a total of 20 sketches. Not only do you get those sketches in a PDF file at the end of the class but you can also download layered templates (PS of PSE) of the sketches for digital layouts! The best of both worlds! This is in a private forum with tons of support from the design team and the participants! The private gallery fills with amazing and inspiring interpretations of the sketches. There will be challenges, games and prizes as well. All that for only $25!

I'm so excited for the Sketchapalooza 6 class to start in May! Currently Jayne, Lee, Tracy and I are all busy working behind the scenes to make this class the best yet. Be sure to sign up if you haven't done so already!

I thought I would share with you some of the layouts I have created during Sketchapalooza 1-5 .

Sketch Challenge Winner!

2010-03-22T09:27:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone that played along with our latest sketch challenge! From all the lovely layouts submitted, we drew a random winner to receive $10.00 off the Sketchapalooza 6 class coming up in May!

Congratulations to Lisa Harrower Tauzell! (Please email me at feelingscrappy at yahoo dot com for all the details) Here is the beautiful layout she submitted!

Happy Spring!

2010-03-21T07:01:00.008-04:00

As you probably already know yesterday was the first day of spring! Is it looking like spring at your house? Spring came a few weeks earlier than normal at my house this, so I had to document what it looked like on the first day of spring. The cherry blossoms and daffodils are almost done. A couple of the rhododendrons are blooming and one is about to (the one that is usually open for Mother's Day!) The photos in the collage below are photos I took in my yard and then used a FREE template from Jessica Sprague to make a fast, fun easy collage. (There is even a tutorial there if you need help getting started).

What does spring mean for you? Lots of flowers in the yard? Baseball gear? Track shoes? Take a few moments to capture your 'spring' photos and create a photo collage or layout. Please share with us by linking through the comments below or on our Feeling Scrappy Facebook Group site.

Celebrate a Woman You Admire!

2010-03-18T05:00:00.006-04:00

Did you know that March is Woman’s History Month?

My challenge to you: scrapbook a page about someone famous (or should be) and how she has influenced you. Or scrapbook about a woman you admire; or an influential woman you would like to meet. Be sure to journal about why you admire this woman, or why you would like to meet them, or why you think they should be famous!

Here is my layout:

The journaling reads: In my life there was no one more supportive, loving or protective than my father's mother, my Nanny. I was so fortunate to be the recipient of her determination and unwavering commitment to family. She taught me, first hand, that doing right has nothing to do with being in the majority; if you're going to raise your hand you better do your best; and, nothing is more important than the children you raise. I hope to live up to her example. Every day.

And, if you're a sketch collector, like me, here is one you can use to base your own tribute:

Be sure to share your layout on the Feeling Scrappy Facebook Gallery.

Super Simple Cookies

2010-03-16T07:01:00.001-04:00

Delicious, inexpensive homemade cookies made so easy that anyone can do it! And there is no need to wait for butter to soften! You can choose your own gourmet flavors too. The secret? Start with a cake mix. Yes, you read that right. A cake mix.

Cake Mix Cookies:

1 standard size cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 c. vegetable oil

approx. 3/4 c. additives of your choice (chocolate chips, raisins, coconut, nuts, etc.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix all the ingredients together until well blended.

Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets

Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes. Yields about 3 dozen cookies

Flavor suggestions:

Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix and Pecans (pictured above)

Carrot or Spice Cake Mix and Raisins

German Chocolate Cake Mix and coconut

Chocolate cake mix and white chocolate chips

White cake mix and chocolate chips

Give this a try and let us know the flavor you made in the comments section below!

Is that Spring in the air?

2010-03-13T05:00:00.002-05:00

I don't know about where you are, but here in Southern Ontario (Canada, outside of Toronto) we can sense Spring is almost here! I am already thinking of planting my pots of flowers and tomato plants; putting out the patio furniture and washing all the windows. I will still have to wait another month or more for any of that to happen.

So, in the meantime, I don't want to waste this feeling of energy and anticipation! To celebrate the departure of winter, I can do things inside to herald the arrival of sunshine and happiness!

My idea of fun? SPRING CLEANING!

What is your favourite thing to do? Do you like to tackle big projects or start small? I go through my entire house, from top to bottom and make a list of all the big and small projects in every room. It is an overwhelming, but necessary, task. Sometimes, intimidation rears it's ugly head and I find it hard to get motivated so I start with something small. Once that’s done, I always realize it really didn’t take too much time at all and ultimately carry on and get far more accomplished than I expected. It is such a wonderful feeling. Pure bliss.

So, this weekend, in anticipation of Spring, I am going to dedicate some time to cleaning out my bathroom drawers: toss all of the old makeup, expired medications, combine or toss all of the bottles with just a smidge of product on the bottom and give all of my towels a good wash - they're all white, so a good soak in bleach alternative too! I bet (other than the laundry) it will take me less than 15 minutes to get it all done. A quarter hour well spent!

Head over to these sites for great Cleaning and Organizing ideas:

Peter Walsh

Martha Stewart

Flylady

Let us know what you manage to accomplish. I'll be posting my "before" and "after" photos over on the Facebook page. Be sure to check it out on Monday!

New Sketch Challenge!

2010-03-11T18:32:00.004-05:00

We have a brand new sketch for you today made by the talented Stacey Curry! Be sure to check out her blog for some awesome creative inspiration. Anyone who completes a layout using this sketch and posts it to our Facebook gallery by next Friday (March 19th) will be entered into a drawing to win 1/2 off our next sketch class! Have Fun! :)

Straight Border Punch on a Curve

2010-03-10T07:01:00.006-05:00

Do you love border punches as much as I do? Do you ever with you could make them go around a curve, oval or circle? Now you can! Here is an easy way to do it!

1) Punch your border punch along the full length of your paper.

2) Trim your punched edge, leaving enough width to work with. Mine was 3/4".
3) Clip your border edge between each repeat of the pattern.

4) It should bend and curve easily, but not fall apart.

5) Trim a piece of paper with a curve. (Circles and ovals work as well). 6)Generously apply adhesive to the curve you plan to put your border edge on.

7) Working from the front adhere each section of your punched border edge.
8) Your ready to apply the curving border punched edge to a layout or card.

Completed cards:

I hope you give it a try! Please share your projects with us either by posting a link in the comments here or on the Feeling Scrappy Facebook Page!

Mmmmm. Stew!

2010-03-09T05:00:00.005-05:00

This is one of the very first recipes I tried in my crock pot, years ago. It continues to be a favourite in my household. It is a bit cumbersome, but the results? Worth every minute of preparation!

WINE-BRAISED VEAL WITH ROSEMARY
This is an elegant, simple, delicious meal. The flavours are wonderfully subtle. What could be better?

1 Tbsp Olive Oil (15mL)
3 oz. Pancetta diced to 1/4" (90g)
2 lbs Stewing Veal, cut into 1" cubes (1Kg)
3 Leeks, white part only, coarsely chopped (3)
30 Baby carrots cut in half (30)
2 Celery stalks, diced (2)
2 Garlic cloves, minced (2)
1.5 Tbsp Fresh Rosemary Leaves, chopped (1.5T)
1 tsp Salt (5mL)
1/2 tsp Freshly ground pepper (2mL)
2 Tbsp All Purpose Flour (25mL)
1/2 C Dry Red Wine (125mL)
1/2 C Condensed Chicken Broth, undiluted (125mL)

In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook, stirring until browned. Use slotted spoon to transfer to slow cooker stoneware.

Add veal to pan in batches. Cook, stirring until batch begins to brown. Use slotted spoon to transfer to slow cooker. Continue cooking in batches until all veal is browned.

Add leaks, carrots and celery to pan and cook, stir until softened. Add rosemary, garlic, salt, pepper and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over mixture and cook for 1 more minute. Add wine and chicken broth and stir until mixture thickens.

Pour thickened mixture over meat in slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours. Serve with Polenta, mashed potatoes or crusty bread.

The best part of this recipe, over the years the kids have decided to help out! Here is the process:

I make sure I have all of my ingredients before I start.

Chloe and Caden help peel the carrots while I take care of the sizzling pancetta.

The leeks, carrots and celery are all chopped up (big chunks) and wait in a bowl.

After the veal is browned and moved to the crock pot all of the veggies are added and softened in the pan.

Caden continues to be helpful as my sous chef. Here he's adding salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary to the cooked vegetables.

The vegetables have been floured and chicken stock has been added, along with the wine. Now it's time to wait! Six or seven hours later. Delicious!

I know this is not your typical stick-it-in-the-pot-and-wait slow cooker recipe and you do need a bit of time to prepare, but my, is it ever worth the effort! If you find you have a slow, damp day that screams for some comfort food, this is the perfect solution.

One thing to note: my kids are not crazy about Rosemary and I have modified the recipe to less than the original. The original calls for burying a whole sprig in the middle of the pot while cooking. So, if you like Rosemary, feel free to add more!

Enjoy your day!

Photography Challenge: Shoot from the Hip

2010-03-04T07:01:00.005-05:00

How about a fun, different and EASY photo challenge?

This challenge will work best if you have your camera set on its auto setting. Leave your camera hanging from the strap around your neck and start snapping away or have it on your lap if you are sitting. No looking through the viewfinder or at the screen. This will give you a totally different perspective than looking through the viewfinder. If you have young children this is more likely to be at their eye level and what they see when they are walking through a crowd. If you have family members that hide their faces every time you bring your camera up to your eye this may be a way to sneak some photos of them. Don't worry if your photos are crooked or the subject isn't centered like you hoped.....That is part of the fun!

I hope you have fun with this challenge and will share your photos either by linking them in the comments section here of on the Feeling Scrappy Facebook site.

Here are some samples of some I've taken.

I Spy ...

2010-03-03T10:58:00.001-05:00

Plenty of gorgeous layouts have been finding their way onto our Feeling Scrappy Facebook Gallery. I have a few favourites:

Big Bright Eyes by Tricia Cox Garrett

I have to say that even though there is a ton going on with this page the central focus is still the photo and those bright eyes! The tones are perfect!

Junior Challenge by Debra King

This jumped out at me on the gallery. What bold photos and a great event to remember! Love the three circles on the bottom. Gorgeous.

Waiting for Santa by Carrie Ann Chesney Dressler

I love the use of universal elements to draw in the viewer. In this case the "Santa belt" is so recognizable it reinforces the title. The papers are gorgeous, too!

Which layout appeals to you? Scraplift it! Then post your lift on our Facebook page for all of us to admire. Remember, a scraplift can be based on topic, colours or design. Whatever tweaks that creative spark. Go for it!

I chose all of the layouts from our Facebook gallery and they are all fabulous - but we don't have nearly enough of them! You'll notice that Becky and I have contributed quite a number but we want YOURS. Your gallery layouts do not have to be based on the Feeling Scrappy Sketchapalooza sketches as we have the gallery on the class site for that. Please feel free to use the Facebook gallery to post your work in between the classes and keep connected with your classmates and friends!

Olympic Inspiration

2010-02-28T08:13:00.005-05:00

If your family is anything like mine you have spent every evening for the last two weeks in front of the television watching the 2010 Winter Olympics. I am in awe of every single one of these athletes. Their time and dedication to be one of the best in the world in their sport is beyond my comprehension. (Although, I definitely dedicate a lot of time to my scrapping hobby as well.)

Today, before plopping down to watch the closing ceremonies, pay tribute to these great athletes by going out and creating your own Olympic Game! Do you have snow on the ground? Challenge the family to see who can sled down a hill the farthest, or throw a snowball the farthest. No snow? How about heading to the local ice or roller skating rink and practicing your figure skating, speed skating or hockey moves (or if you are like me just attempt to stand in the skates!) Do you have your own rollerblades? Get them out and skate around the neighborhood. You get the idea. Use the Olympics and its wonderful athletes to inspire you to get out and do something as a family!

Remember to take photos and share them on our Facebook page!

Please post a comment here and share what you plan to do!

Looking for WARMTH!

2010-02-25T05:00:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you, but I've been cold for far too long and I'm tired of winter. Though in my part of the world we haven't had much snow, it's been drab and I'm ready for summer! So, for a bright spot in your day, here are some summer layouts from last year to warm you - and if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, perhaps inspire you:

I had to add four layouts so all of my kids are represented :)

And, a bonus: after all, what colour can warm you more than a dose of YELLOW:

This last layout is based on a sketch from Sketchapalooza 5 held last fall right here at Feeling Scrappy. Have you signed up for Sketchapallooza 6? If not, what're you waiting for? Click here and join me, Becky and Jayne in all the fun! Don't miss out, sign up today! The course starts May 3rd and runs for four weeks - mark us in your plans for spring :)

Enjoy your day!

Back to Basics

2010-02-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

The world of scrapbooking is filled with so many wonderful products. Products that fit every style imaginable but if you had to cut it down to the basics what would you choose? Today, I want to share my top five "basic" products. I reach for these product over and over again and they never fail me :)

1.) My Creative Memories tape runner. I have tried every adhesive under the sun and I always come back to this trust little blue darling. I find it to be the smoothest, strongest and easiest to use.
2.) We Are Memory Keepers page protectors. I changed over to these about 2 years ago and I have never looked back. Sturdy and strong, these protectors come in a variety of sizes and shapes and allow me freedom when I scrapbook which I love!

3.) American Crafts slick writer pens. In black thank you very much. I have a gazillion (literally) different colors and brands of pens but these are the ones I reach for most often.

4.) Bazzill cardstock. Love the colors. Love the texture. Love the weight. Love the line.

5.) Carl 12 inch personal rotary trimmer. This one may well be the biggest surprise on the list (I know it was to me!) I picked up this little baby about 8 years ago from Staples when I was heading to a over night crop because it was compact and cheap. I have tried many trimmers since that time but this is the only one that I have found that cuts straight time after time. I have a spare blade but have never had to change it yet and believe me when I say I have given this trimmer a good work out over the years.

So there you have it - my top 5 basics. What are yours?

Strawberry Spinach Salad

2010-02-23T07:25:00.005-05:00

I was so excited to see fresh strawberries in the produce department this week I just had to make my family's all-time favorite salad. The measurements are just approximate as I tend to add things until it looks right. I hope you will give it a try and let me know what you think.

Strawberry Spinach Salad
1 package Fresh spinach
1/2 cup Sliced strawberries
1/4 cup Sliced almonds, toasted
1 Tablespoon Sesame seeds, toasted
1/4 cup Dressing (recipe below)

Dressing (makes approximately 1-1/4 cups)
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon poppyseeds
1 1/2 teaspoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil

Mix ingredients and heat for about 5 minutes, then toss with salad ingredients. Dressing will keep in refrigerator. Reheat to use on future salads.

Enjoy!

Becky

Sketchapalooza 6!

2010-02-17T10:47:00.004-05:00

Sketchapalooza 6
May 3rd to May 31st 2010

We have an all new Sketch Class in the works for you! During this class you will be provided with tons of brand new original sketches (5 per week!) with examples of finished pages from our talented design team during this month long course. This fast paced, exciting class is suitable for any level of scrapper and caters to both traditional and digital artists alike. This class is perfect for anyone who wants to get a tons of pages done and wants to have a ball doing it!

Here is what you can expect during this class:

A full four weeks of class running from May 3rd to May 31st
Detailed sketches made exclusively for you by our design team
20 total sketches (5 per week!)
Digital templates provided for PS or PSE for each sketch
Tips and tid-bits to keep your creative juices flowing
Fabulous creative examples for each sketch by our talented designers
A private class forum with lots of support and friendly conversation
A gallery filled with layout examples
Self-paced class - do as much or as little as you like
A PDF file including all the sketches from the class for you to keep for future reference
Graduation crop with challenges, games and prizes
Plus a few surprises :)

The cost for this month long class is only $25.00.
Ready to sign up? Just click the "Buy Now" button below.

New Designers!

2010-02-16T15:28:00.003-05:00

I must first apologize for the delay in making this announcement. I am sincerely sorry to have kept you waiting! We are making a few changes here at Feeling Scrappy and I have decided to hold off on the guest design positions until a bit later this year (if you applied for a guest spot - I will be saving all the applications and contacting you at that time to see about your interest.)
Now on to the fun stuff!

Our two new Design Team members are...

Lee Currie and Becky Rico!

Many of you are familiar with these artists and I know you will be as inspired by their work as I am! We will be working as a team to bring you lots of fun new things on the blog and getting ready for a brand new class line up. I encourage you to visit their blogs to learn more about them:
Lee - Embrace Life
Becky - My Cre8tive Place

A little later this week you will get to see bios about both of them on our blog under the Design Team tab. Welcome Lee and Becky - we are thrilled to have you as a part of the Feeling Scrappy team!

Dt Deadline Extended!

2010-01-20T09:01:00.003-05:00

We have extended the deadline for design team submissions to February 1st so you have a few extra days! (My main computer died and I need a bit of time to retrieve some files!) Hope this helps some of you that are considering the Feeling Scrappy Design team! You can find all the details in this post.

Design Team Call!

2010-01-12T09:35:00.004-05:00

New Year, New Team!

We are seeking creative and fun scrapbookers who have the ability to inspire and motivate others with their work. Design Team members will be for a six-month term (Jan 20, 2010 - July 30, 2010) and the Guest Designers will serve for one class each (approx two months - one of planning and one during the actual class) No previous design team experience is required - we encourage all styles of scrappers to apply!

Design Team Members and Guest Designers will be expected to do the following during their term:
1.) Design approx 4-5 layouts or projects per month (based on classes) to be used as examples.
2.) Promote Feeling Scrappy whenever possible and create a link on your blog or website if applicable.
3.) Participate on a scheduled basis on the blog - working to make it a fun and inspiring place to read. (This includes posting and assisting with contests, crops and challenges)
4.) Assist with class development and be an active presence during classes providing support and encouragement to students.

For your commitment you will receive:
Regular DT members - recognition as a DT member, a scrappy gift every other month and free classes during your term.
Guest DT members - recognition as a Guest DT member, a free class during your term and 1/2 off the next class if you choose to take advantage of it.

We will accept applications from Wednesday, January 13, 2010 until Monday, Feb 1, 2010. We will announce the new team members right here on the blog Wednesday, Feb 3, 2010.

How to Apply:
Send the following to feelingscrappy at yahoo dot com:
1.) Your basic information: name, address, phone and e-mail.
2.) Four 12x12 scrapbook layouts (at least one of which should be a new layout not post anywhere on the Web - these can be traditional, digital or a combination) and one original 12x12 page layout sketch (this can be hand or computer generated and should be new/never posted on the Internet.)
3.) A link to your blog and/or image hosting site.
4.) a short bio about yourself that includes the answers to the following questions:
What do you consider your scrapbook style?
Are you a traditional, digital or combo scrapper?
Do you have experience working with Photoshop or PSE?
Are you an active on any message boards and if so which ones?
Why do you want to be on our DT?
Are you on any other teams? IF so, why do you want to be on more then one?
How would you be able to help promote Feeling Scrappy?
What do you feel you could bring to the design team?
Would you be willing to serve as either a regular DT or as a guest DT member?
If you would be interested in a Guest spot, are there any months between Feb and July 2010 that would not work for you?

We encourage you to apply and look forward to getting to know you (or seeing old friends!) Feel free to e-mail any questions to feelingscrappy at yahoo dot com.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T02:00:00.001-05:00

Wishing you the happiest of holidays this year and hoping that the coming year is filled with fun!
We will be getting back in the grove with lots of scrappy goodness after the 1st - be on the look out for a Feeling Scrappy design team call and our new winter class schedule. See you soon!

The Worlds BEST Fudge

2009-12-21T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is a family favorite!!! I even entered this recipe in to the fair for 4-H when I was in grade school. I, of course, got a blue ribbon!!! Probably because of the bazaar secret ingredient.

This makes a HUGE batch.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Butter or Margarine
1 lb. Velveeta Cheese (yes really)
4 lbs. Powdered Sugar
1 c. Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)
1 tsp. Vanilla
Chopped Nuts (optional)

In a saucepan melt butter and cheese. Sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa. Add melted mixture to the powdered sugar mixture, along with the vanilla and nuts. Mix well and spread evenly into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Cool and then cut into pieces.

This work really well to pour into small gift tins lined with parchment paper - makes an awesome gift!

Enjoy!!

Stacey

Cowboy Caviar

2009-12-14T10:23:00.004-05:00

With the holidays comes entertaining and with that comes food. I know many of you (including myself) are trying to eat healthier. This is a great healthy appetizer that even those not on a diet will enjoy. I think there are many variations out there on this recipe, but here's one we have made and enjoyed. This is great with chips or wrapped up in a tortilla (or just eaten with a spoon! Yum!)

Cowboy Caviar

1 can of corn (drained)

1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)

2 tomatoes (or more) diced

1-2 avacados diced (depending on your preference)

2 bell peppers diced (I used red and orange)

1/2 onion diced

Sauce-

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 TBS jalepeno jelly or fresh jalepeno

The juice of 1 lime

Cilantro to taste (I used a lot)

salt and pepper to taste

Combine sauce ingredients and mix well. Toss sauce with the other ingredients and enjoy! (I might have addded cumin and a couple of other things...I am not very good at sticking to a recipe! LOL)

Easy Gift Idea

2009-12-13T14:45:00.002-05:00

I know this isn't scrap related but I also know that many people are trying to finish up last minute holiday gifts so I thought I would share this great deal with you! Amazon has a full year of the Oprah magazine on sale for just $5.00. You can not bet that price! Just go here to see the details. I got one for myself and one for my mom :) Enjoy!

Easy flower embellishment

2009-12-09T14:47:00.003-05:00

Add a little something to your typical flowers with an easy ribbon or fabric layer. All you need is a strip of fabric or ribbon and some adhesive (I used phototape).

Gather your supplies-

Put adhesive on the bottom back of the ribbon or fabric-

Gather the fabric or ribbon together using the adhesive to hold it-

Layer your creation on some flowers and add an embellishment in the center. Easy! (I also trimmed a little around the edge of my fabric after scrunching it up to make the edges a little more wavy.)

Zesty Tomato Soup

2009-12-07T17:02:00.003-05:00

I decided to share the soup I am making for dinner tonight with you. Paired up with a salad and warm bread - it is a perfect weeknight winter meal. So easy to make!

Ingredients:
1 medium onion (chopped)
2-3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp cumin (or more to taste)
48 oz bottle of spicy hot V-8 juice
1 can diced tomato, undrained
1 can chicken broth (about 2 cups)
green onion (chopped)
monteray jack cheese

Instructions:
Cook onion and garlic in olive oil until tender in a large pot. Add cumin, V-8, tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to boil then turn down heat and simmer for about 30 minutes to blend flavors. In bowls place a small amount of cheese, pour soup into bowls over the cheese and garnish with green onion.

Here is a layout I did for my kitchen album that features this recipe:

Enjoy and keep warm!

Family Fun with Games

2009-12-06T07:00:00.003-05:00

Speaking of traditions.....one of our families favorite holiday traditions is games - we play every year on Christmas and the day after.

(My sister, my aunt and I getting ready to play A to Z last year at Christmas)

My parents and grandmother's favorites are Tripoly and good old fashioned card games.

Others we love include:

Balderdash - oh the definitions we can come up with - it is a challenge to keep a straight face - such fun!!

Read my Lips - no talking is aloud - yeah my Grandma's a big cheater here - keeps us in stitches!!!

Scattergories

Taboo

We create so many memories each year with the fun of games! You too should make it a new family tradition - good fun will be had by all.

Holiday Traditions

2009-12-04T10:42:00.003-05:00

Have you documented your family holiday traditions? Here are a couple of pages from the DT about our traditions.
This one, by me, is about baking our gingerbread cookies each year.

Here's one from Stacey Curry about one of their traditions.

Happy Friday!!

Paint & Painter's Tape

2009-12-02T16:25:00.008-05:00

I love to use painter's tape to get a nice clean line on my layouts. You can use it any way you would like (it makes a great custom mask!!) Here is an example of one way to use the tape:

1.) I use a ruler and pencil to mark so that my tape will be even.

2.) Then I just place the tape wherever I don't want the paint to go.

3.) Add paint.

4.) Let dry and then slowly remove tape.

5.) You end up with a nice clean border :) Just finish your layout!

Finished layout:

Hope you give it a try - it is super easy and the possibilities are endless. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T12:40:00.001-05:00

Wishing you and yours a happy day! :)

Crustless Quiche

2009-11-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is a yummy and easy meal you can eat for breakfast or dinner! (We usually eat it for dinner.)

Crustless Quiche
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk (I use skim)
1/2 cup biscuit/baking mix
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup cooked ham or bacon, chopped up
1 cup shredded cheese
1-2 diced green onions

Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine the first four ingredients and beat on low speed until well blended.
Pour about half of the mixture into a greased pie pan.
Sprinkle the rest of the ingredients on top and then pour the rest of the mixture over it.
Carefully transfer it to the oven (it will be very full) and bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand a few minutes before serving. We like to top it with sour cream and salsa. Enjoy!

Page About You by You

2009-11-20T15:41:00.007-05:00

So often we forget to scrap pages about us - a page about you by you.....I know I used to forget all about pages of me - I was so focused on everyone else.. I am getting better - remembering to leave a little bit about me - my story for my children and their children to come.

Topics might include:
What I am thankful for
What I dream about
My Bucket List
My Favorites
A fun childhood memory
Me today (and do a page each year - because of course things change.

So today here are a few examples to get you thinking of ways to scrapbook you.

Jayne's Layout:

Stacey L's Layout:

My Layout:

Hope you enjoyed! If you want to share layouts about you please leave a comment here with a link to your layout!

Tips for using sketches

2009-11-18T07:00:00.004-05:00

We are in the last week of Sketchapalooza and I have been working with a lot of sketches lately. I love sketches because they are a great starting point and inspiration for my pages.

Maybe you already use and love sketches as much as I do. But maybe they scare you. Or maybe you feel limited by them. If this describes you, (and even if it doesn't) here are a few tips for working with sketches.

1. Use a sketch as a starting point and don't feel bound to it.
2. Use the elements as inspiration...feel free to pick and choose only some parts of the sketch to use. Don't be afraid to make changes. Take away papers, elements, etc. or even add some.
3. If there is a flower or other object on the sketch, it is generally representative of any embellishment so be creative!
4. Turn or flip the sketch to fit your photos better.
5. Don't feel like you have to use the exact number of photos on the sketch. I actually rarely use the number called for. I use the photo "areas" as a guide and use the number of photos I have to scrap.
*Finally, have fun with it and scrap away! It's totally fine if the end result doesn't even resemble the sketch. The most important thing is that you are documenting important memories.

I hope you try some of these tips on the next sketch you use! Check out my post from last Friday for a new sketch to inspire you. :)

Happy scrapping!! And I hope to see you in Feeling Scrappy's next Sketchapalooza!

November Featured Srapbooker

2009-11-16T22:16:00.007-05:00

This month, I would like to introduce you to Angela Huckins. We have gotten to know her through several Feeling Scrappy classes - it has been great seeing her work and fun getting to know her better. (Wait until you read about her families Thanksgiving tradition!! YUM!)

How and when did you first start scrapbooking?
I was visiting a neighbor in June of 2004, who showed me her CM albums. I told her that would be nothing I'd have time to do. After some thought and online browsing, I decided to give it a try. Of course, I couldn't start with the basics...needed all those CM tools too!

What is the most important aspect to scrapbooking to you?
The important aspect for me is telling the story. I try to stay current so that those stories can have all the details that do tend to get forgotten.

What are your favorite pages to work on?
My favorite pages are about everyday life. I love all the antics the kids do!

What if anything do you find hard to scrap?
I find my wedding and honeymoon album hard to tackle. It has been over 14 yrs and I'm not sure how I want to start.

What kind of camera do you use? Do you love it or hate it?
I have a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 Lumix and I love it! It has a 10x zoom and it captures pictures fast. I love that it is very portable and small.

What do you enjoy most about scrapbooking?
Scrapbooking is my time! Relax, re-live, and create! I love the hands on creating with paper, ink, tools,...you name it. I also love to swap, still very addicting for me.

Tell us a little about your family.
I've been with my DH for 17 yrs and married for 14 yrs. We have 4 kids: Kyle 11, Shawn 9, Jacob 6, and Emily 4. I have been able to stay at home with them, which has been great. My DHs parents have a farm just around the corner from us. At the farm we raise our own beef and pork, also we have a large garden there. We were able to sell a lot of produce this year. At home we have a hen house with 30 birds and sell our eggs. My DHs family gets together every Saturday night for 'bean night'. My MIL bakes beans and fixes supper. The ever-expanding family gathers and any birthdays that week are celebrated that night. We also have an 8 month old yellow/fox red lab whose name is Todd.

One Huckins family tradition is on Thanksgiving. PIES! Everyone looks forward to this day each year. Not just a couple of pies, but sometimes as many as 92 if not more! The more pies the better. The variety varies a lot! Yes, this is a day of eating. The following day is 'pie breakfast' where all the extended family and friends come, usually bringing more pies. The most pies that I have made was 19 (6 pumpkin, 4 apple, 3 frozen peanut butter, 2 custard, 2 apple/blueberry crumb, and 2 chocolate pudding). Just thought I'd share :)

Tell us about the things outside of scrapbooking that you enjoy.
I use to quilt a lot before scrapbooking. Currently I'm crocheting the kids some hats. I enjoy reading historical romances, listening to country music, making arts&crafts with the kids, volunteering in the schools for crafts once a month in 1st & 3rd grade, and enjoying the outdoors.
Tell us something about yourself that your Feeling Scrappy friends do not know.
I'm not sure, sharing layouts tell a lot about my life. I'm rather a quite/shy person. Being a SAHM keeps me home, so I don't really get out much. I don't have any local scrapbook friends, so I ventured online to meet some. Creating and sharing my work, then reading the comments is wonderful! My only commenters are my immediate family who don't scrap. My life is basically a simple country life, with many home-bound adventures :)

Here are a few of Angela favorite layouts:

A new sketch!

2009-11-13T09:51:00.003-05:00

I created a new sketch to get your creative juices flowing today...hope you like it!

Here's a month summary page I created using the sketch.

Here's a super adorable page Stacey C. created using the sketch.

We'd love to see any pages that you create with this sketch so I hope you will share in the comments. Have a wonderful Friday!

Russian Tea

2009-11-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is one of our favorite cold weather treats. It is a perfect mix for gift giving and it is so easy to make.

Ingredients:
1 18 oz. jar of Tang
6 oz. instant lemonade mix
1/2 c. instant tea
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together and store in an air tight container. To serve mix 2 - 3 spoons to a cup of hot water. Stir and drink. Yummy!!!

Thankful

2009-11-07T09:55:00.004-05:00

November is here and that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This is the month to be mindful of how blessed we are - to be reminded of all that we have to be thankful for.
Here are a few really cool projects you can do this month to be mindful of your blessings.

Thankful Wreaths

Thankful Tree

Thankful Turkey

Thankful Necklaces

If you and your family decide to do one of these projects please post a picture on your blog and share the links with us here.

Have a wonderful day!

Thankful :)

2009-11-06T11:08:00.002-05:00

November is here and with it the start of the holiday season! Today we are sharing a few layouts about being thankful. Hope they inspire you to make one of your own this month!

Thankful by Stacey Lokovic:

Give Thanks by Jayne Jones:

Happy Friday!

Altered tin

2009-11-04T14:46:00.003-05:00

Gather your supplies:

Apply a really heavy duty adhesive liberally to your tin:

Now attach your paper:

Add a trim and some embellishments if you would like:

Now trim out with ribbon and grommets and add a ribbon handle:

There you have it - a quick afternoon project - a perfect package for gift giving. Next Monday I will provide the perfect recipe to add to your altered tin.

Gingerbread

2009-11-02T07:00:00.003-05:00

This smells as wonderful as it tastes! Such a yummy fall treat-I hope you'll enjoy this quick bread as much as we do.

Gingerbread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup molasses

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking soda

1 cup boiling water

2 1/2 cups flour

2 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 5 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until done.

Sugar High Anyone?

2009-11-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Did you have a fun Halloween? Do you have more candy then you and your family could or should ever eat? Here are a few places with some great suggestions for what to do with all that candy! (After you eat some of course!)

Parenthood - what to do with all that candy

CD Kitchen - leftover candy recipes

SquidBoo - more leftover candy recipes

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T10:12:00.002-04:00

Wishing all our friends and your families a safe and sweet filled Halloween! Have fun :)
(Be sure to check back tomorrow for some ideas on how to use up all that candy.)

Great sketches can be found....

2009-10-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

...at Sketchapalooza 5! It's not to late to enjoy 20 great sketches - come on you know you want to join us. You will have access to wonderful sketches - and wonderful examples - and the sweetest group of women ever!!!

Here is a sketch from our Sketchapalooza 4 class - and look at the fun examples.

Sketch by Stacey Curry:

Stacey Curry's layout:

Jayne's Layout:

Stacey's Layout:

Come on join now and we'll see you in class!!!

I spy...

2009-10-28T17:21:00.006-04:00

We are having a blast in Sketchapalooza and it's only just begun! I have seen lots of fabulous pages in the gallery so far...so fun and inspiring.
Here's a great fall page that caught my eye by Kyla Hunziger:

Here's another page by Heather Coonley that I just loved:

Wonderful layouts ladies, can't wait to see what everyone creates throughout class.

Sketchapalooza 5 Starts Monday!

2009-10-25T11:12:00.002-04:00

The classroom is already open and we are all set to start class tomorrow morning! We are all excited and can't wait to get started. If you have been thinking about joining us now is the time :)

Here is what you can expect during the Sketchapalooza 5 Class:

A full FOUR WEEKS of class running from October 26th until November 23rd
Detailed sketches made exclusively for you by our design team
A full 20 sketches (5 per week!)
Digital templates provided for PS or PSE for each sketch
Plus tips and tid-bits to keep your creative juices flowing
Fabulous creative examples for each sketch by our talented design team
A private class forum with lots of support and friendly conversation
Self paced class - do as much or as little as you would like
A PDF file including all the sketches from class for you to keep for future reference
Graduation crop with challenges, games and prizes
Plus a few surprises :)

The cost for this month long class is only $25.00. You can sign up by clicking the button in the right side bar. Hope to see you in class!

Be Safe This Halloween!

2009-10-24T11:49:00.004-04:00

(By the way - want to monsterize a photo of your kiddoes - check out Picnik)

With Halloween just a week away I thought I's share a few tips I found to keep you and your little ones safe this Halloween!

Safe Halloween

Know the Rules

Common Sense

Do be safe and I hope you and your little ones (and big ones) have a wonderfully happy and frightful Halloween! :)

Fall layout inspiration

2009-10-23T11:14:00.004-04:00

Fall brings new colors, weather and of course, school. I love the colors of fall as well as the crispness in the air. We recently went on a drive and took a few photos of the changes but I have yet to scrap them. Here are a couple of pages done by the design team using some of the colors of fall.

A layout by Jayne-

A layout by me-

Happy Friday!!

New Sketch - Win a Free Class!

2009-10-20T11:09:00.003-04:00

Our most popular class, Sketchapalooza 5, starts this Monday! Here is your chance to win a spot in the class. I just posted a brand new sketch on our Feeling Scrappy Facebook Group. Create a new layout using the sketch below by Saturday and post the finished layout on our Facebook Group. (Go here to join us if you are not already a member.) I will draw and post the winner there on Sunday.

Already sign up for Sketchapalooza 5 or thinking about it? Don't wait! You can still play along - if you are the winner I will just refund your class payment. Good Luck and Happy Scrapping! :)

Rolodex punch - part 2

2009-10-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I showed you how to use a basic and inexpensive office supply to create a decorative edge on a paper. Here is the layout I created using the journaling paper:

You could even rough it up a bit and tear off some parts of the edge to give it more of a worn look:

Happy scrapping!

Rolodex punch - part 1

2009-10-17T07:00:00.003-04:00

You can use a basic office supply to create a border like those expensive edge punches. This punch was only a couple of dollars.

This is so easy...just punch the edge of your paper.

Then keep lining it up and punching again unti you are done.

Here it is finished.

Check back tomorrow to see a layout using this journaling paper.

Highlight - Wendi Lucchesi

2009-10-14T07:00:00.002-04:00

I am pleased to introduce you all to Wendi Lucchesi! Wendi's layouts catch our eye in the class gallery all the time. She is very talented. It's always so fun to learn more about our scrappy friends - and boy did I learn something new about Wendi!!!

How and when did you first start scrapbooking?

My sister-in-law invited me to a Creative Memories home party in September of 1998. At the time, my first-born was ten months old. Since then I have been keeping his photos in a Hallmark magnetic album. After the Creative Memories Consultant’s presentation, I knew I had to get those precious photos in a safe place. My husband happened to work with a fellow whose wife was a Creative Memories consultant. She called me and I starting attending her crop nights while my husband stayed with the baby. I’ve been scrapping ever since!

What is the most important aspect to scrapbooking to you?

The most important aspect to scrapbooking for me is being able to get those precious memories recorded. When your life passes one a day at a time, it very easy to recall the details. However, when life passes year-to-year, it much harder to remember the details of those special moments. I love being a mother. My scrapbooks are the vehicles that take me back through the years of my children’s lives.

What are your favorite pages to work on?

I enjoy working on holiday related photos and photos of my puppy. It’s easy to pull papers and embellishments together when your theme has already been decided.

What if anything do you find hard to scrap?

I find vacation photos the most tedious to scrap! I take so many photos – usually over a 1000 for a one-week vacation. I feel so emotionally attached to the photos that it is excruciatingly painful to pare the number down. I often employ my husband’s help to narrow the photos to a manageable amount.

What kind of camera do you use? Do you love it or hate it?

I have a digital Canon Rebel Xt along with several different lenses. I love it! Sometimes I wish had more compact camera that I could keep in my purse for those random photo opportunities.

What do you enjoy most about scrapbooking?

I most enjoy the relaxation that scrapbooking provides for me. It’s time for me to spend alone in my own thoughts. I like working with my hands. I also am grateful for the friendships I have made working with others that enjoy scrapbooking and cardmaking.

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband Mark and I have been married for fourteen years. We have two sons. Nicholas is eleven and has just started middle school. Christopher is nine and is in the fourth grade. We also have a wonderful three-year-old Shih Tzu puppy that we are all crazy about. We live in suburban St. Louis. We were both born and raised in St. Louis. All of our parents and siblings still live here so family surrounds us. For that, I am grateful.

Tell us about the things outside of scrapbooking that you enjoy.

Scrapbooking would be my hobby of choice. I also like to make cards, quilt, and needlepoint – all things that I can do with my hands! I belong to a book club and enjoy volunteering at my children’s school and our church.

Tell us something about yourself that your Feeling Scrappy friends do not know.

Probably some things that my Feeling Scrappy friends do not know about me are that I own a Jazzercise Franchise and I teach six classes a week. I play the piano. As a young girl, I appeared in a Romper Room taping. Loved those romper stompers! I am also the #1 Kurt Warner fan!

Here are two of Wendi's favorite layouts:

Crock pot - Sesame Pork Ribs

2009-10-12T07:00:00.003-04:00

With a new baby at home, the crock pot is the only way I can manage dinner most days. Here's a tasty recipe for you to try when you are short on time and want to utilize your slow cooker.
Sesame Pork Ribs

1 medium onion, sliced (I chopped mine)
¾ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup soy sauce
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup honey
2 TBS cider (or white) vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. ground ginger
¼-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (I left this out)
Country style pork ribs
Sesame seeds
Chopped green onions

Directions: Combine everything except for the ribs, sesame seeds and green onions in the crock pot. Place the ribs in the crock pot and pour the sauce over them. Cover and cook all day on low. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and green onions for garnish. Serve with rice and a veggie (I threw some baby carrots in to cook in the sauce.)
Enjoy!!

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-10T10:35:00.005-04:00

Time to carve up old jack! :) I personally love digging out all the guts with my kids and baking up some yummy pumpkin seeds afterwards - can't wait! Do you like your pumpkins cute and easy?

Or do you go for scary and more complicated carvings?

Either way, here are a few website full of ideas!

Pumpkin Carving 101

Extreme Pumpkins

The Pumpkin Wizard

Have fun!

Trick or Treat

2009-10-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

With Halloween just around the corner I know we are all going to have some very fun photos of our little ones all dressed up! I can't wait! So here are a few pages to get you thinking about what you will do with your little ghouls and princesses once in print.

Stacey C's Layout:

Jayne's Layout:

Lee's layout:

An old tool-the crimper!

2009-10-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Do you have any old and unused tools sitting around your craft area? I know I have several that I never use. I bought this crimper a few years ago at the dollar store (I mean for a dollar, could I really pass it up??) and it has just been collecting dust. So, I decided it was time to pull it out and use it.

If you've never used one of these (or decide you want one), they do still sell them at the craft stores (but for much more than a dollar!!) They are simple to use...just run your paper through the two rollers by twisting the ends of the crimper. Your paper will have a lined dimensional effect afterwards.

Here's a new layout I created just to share with you:

Up close and personal:

I love that this adds the feel of dimension without adding bulk to a page. You could also try inking, chalking or sanding the raised lines to accentuate them even more.

So my challenge to you today is to pull out an old tool (any old tool!!) and put it to use! You might discover you love it enough to use it more often (or it might end up in the trash! LOL). Happy scrapping!!!

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

2009-10-05T09:15:00.002-04:00

With the weather turning cooler, I thought it was time to pull out a yummy stick to your ribs type of dish. If you love stuffed cabbage but hate going through the trouble to make it then this casserole is for you! My family loves it (well except for my very picky boy who likes almost nothing!) Hope you enjoy it :)

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion (diced)
1 very small head of cabbage (chopped)
1 medium can of sauerkraut (rinsed)
1/2 cup rice (raw)
2 cans tomato soup
1 1/2 cans water
Seasoning to taste

Brown ground beef and onion together and season to taste. Layer cabbage, sauerkraut, beef and then rice into a 9 x 13 pan. Mix soup and water then pour over the top of your layered items. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until cabbage and rice are tender. Serve with warm crusty bread.

Here is a layout I made for my kitchen album:

Halloween is right around the corner.....

2009-10-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

...and we love Halloween! We love decorating - the whole family enjoys throwing out ideas and seeing the house done up! We are thinking spooky!!! Dear hubby suggested a full sized Michael Myers propped behind our backyard gate - the street light shines right on the gate - it would be fun!!!

I have been searching for the best of ideas and have a nice file going - I thought I'd share some of my favorite sources with you.

Xander and I are loving the ideas for using gourds and pumpkins to set really fun fall scenes. Martha Stewart has some great ideas!!
Pumpkins
More Pumpkins
and Even More Pumpkins

How about a Skull Wreath for your door?

Or a wheel barrow full of bones - such a fun idea!!!

These Mummies are just too cool!!

And I would be forever grateful if my wonderful hubby would make me a couple of these spooky trees!!!

Really I could go on and on and on - the internet and the library are wonderful resources for ideas! If you have a great idea - please do share - I am sure everyone would love to hear!! If you have photos of your spooky displays post them on your blog and link to it here - it would be great fun to see!!!

Card sketch

2009-10-02T07:00:00.002-04:00

Here's a new card sketch I created for you. Hope you can use it!! Please share your cards with us if you do.

Card by me:

Class Project Feature by Kyla Hunziger

2009-09-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

We are creating all sorts of Holiday goodness during our current class "Simplify the Season" and when I saw this take on a project we taught during class I just had to share it with you. This beautiful gift was created by Kyla Hunziger. Great job Kyla - we love it!

You can learn more about Kyla and see more of her projects on her blog The Keative Life.

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-09-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

We are getting the cool fall days and fresh baked cookies seem to really hit the spot!!

This is our favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!

Ingredients:
2 c . whole wheat flour
1/2 c. oatmeal
1 1/4 c. unsalted butter
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
1 package milk chocolate chips

Cream your vanilla, butter and sugars in a mixer. Add eggs. In a separate bowl combine all your dry ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to your wet ingredients and mix well. Now add your chocolate chips. Roll about 2 tbsp of mix into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 375^ for 10 minutes. Enjoy!!!

Fall colors

2009-09-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love the rich colors of fall! Here's a blog post with some great fall color schemes to inspire your creativity.
Fall colors
How do you integrate fall colors into your home decor?

Fall-take a drive!

2009-09-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

I love fall and I love to see the changing of the colors. Do you ever take a drive to see the beautiful changes? Maybe you live near one of the top fall scenic drives in the country. (We don't...but there's still some wonderful scenery!)

Best fall foliage

Here's an idea: Take a drive and stop for some fun fall photos with your family or friends...then use the photos on a layout using some of the rich colors you find.

I hope you will take time to enjoy the change of seasons and the cooler weather.

Childhood Moments

2009-09-25T18:08:00.003-04:00

Today I wanted to share a few layouts that celebrate being a kid! I think it is so important to make layouts not just about the events in the lives of my children but also about the little moments that I want them to remember. I hope you will use these layouts as inspiration to make a few of your own!

Jayne's layout:

Stacey L's layout:

Happy Friday!

Who Says Your Card had to be a Rectangle?

2009-09-23T07:00:00.002-04:00

I LOVE making these fun little shaped cards! It is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3 as long as you have a die cutting machine and some fun dies.
First figure out what size you would like your card - now set your card (or folded piece of cardstock) on your die in the position you are happy with, making sure that your creased side is inside your die - this way your die won't cut through your card. Now run it through your die cutting machine as you normal.

And voila an awesome shaped card!

Really this works with any shaped dies. How about a scalloped circle?

Or a small heart?

Now who wouldn't love getting this sweet little card?

This same concept works to make some very cool borders - just fold your card stock back and forth and place it on your die - remember to keep the creases just inside the die - to do this you will need your folded piece to be about an 1/8" smaller than the die shape that will be cut.

I hope this little "how-to" helps you to think outside the box because who said your cards have to be rectangular?

Tex-Mex Lasagna

2009-09-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is a yummy dish I have been making for a few years now. We all like this in our family. You can make it spicy by using hot salsa and tomatoes with peppers if you'd like.

Tex-Mex Lasagna

¾ cup bottled salsa
1 ½ tsp ground cumin (I use a little more)
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
6 no-cook lasagna noodles (I like Barilla)
1 cup frozen corn-thawed
1 can black beans-drained and rinsed
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese (or anything you have on hand)
¼ cup chopped green onions (optional but good)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. Combine the first four ingredients. Spread 2/3 cup of sauce on the bottom of a 8 inch square casserole dish.
3. Arrange 2 noodles over sauce. Top with ½ of the corn and beans, ½ cup cheese, and 2/3 cup sauce.
4. Repeat layers once and top with remaining sauce and cheese.
5. Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until noodles are tender and sauce is bubbly. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with green onions.

I hope you enjoy this!!

A Few Blogs to Share

2009-09-19T09:08:00.003-04:00

Today I wanted to share a few blogs from my reader that I enjoy everyday. They are not about scrapbooking or crafting, they are not heavy with written content, and they only take a minute to look at each day but I the important thing is that they make me smile. Both focus on beautiful photos and positive messages. I hope you enjoy!

Kind Over Matter

Pretty Good

Fun double page sketch

2009-09-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

Here is a great way to get many photos done is a really nice way - this sketch was done by me (Stacey Curry) for our July sketch class.

My layout:

Jayne's layout:

Stacey's layout

Hope you give is a shot and if you do let us know! Have a great day! For more great sketches check out Sketchapalooza 5! Class starts October 26th!

Featured Scrapbooker

2009-09-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

This month, I'd like to put the spotlight on a great scrapper who has taken several Feeling Scrappy classes. We have enjoyed seeing her work in class and it's been fun learning more about her. Our featured scrapper this month is Karen Perry!!

1. How and when did you first start scrapbooking? I actually began keeping scrapbooks when I was in 2nd grade. I created and maintained a yearly scrapbook of my school years through high school. Like many - I took a break during my college years and early adult life, but returned to scrapbooking 12 years ago when my 3rd child (DS who is now a Senior in high school) entered 1st grade. I finally had the create time once again to resume working on the growing accumulation of photos and memorabilia I had saved from my early years of marriage and having while my children were very small.

2. What is the most important aspect to scrapbooking to you? Scrapbooking is my creative outlet that allows me an artistic medium of preserving precious family memories.

3. What are your favorite pages to work on? I enjoy any page that involves my kids, from everyday moments such as cooking together, sports and family outings to large extended family gatherings. I enjoy documenting where we travel and the sites we get to see.

4. What, if anything, do you find hard to scrap? Including memorabilia in an eye-appealing layout frequently challenges me. I always save some bit of memorabilia when we travel, but often times do not include it in my layouts.

5. What kind of camera do you use? Do you love it or hate it? I have several cameras and use all of them, but my primary camera is a Canon digital Rebel Elan xti. I also have several lenses which I enjoy using, depending on my photo subject. I truly love my camera and would really like to upgrade to a professional model.

6. What do you enjoy most about scrapbooking? Scrapbooking is my creative outlet. It’s very therapeutic to me. Regardless of how exhausting my day or week may have been, I get completely lost once I sit down to my work table and begin a scrapping project. I enjoy the blending of colors and the ability to highlight special memories captured in photographs. As my scrapbooking circle of friends continues to grow - I am amazed at how much people have in common. It’s such a privilege to “see” into others lives as we share our photos and craft through scrapbooking.

7. Tell us a little about your family. I am married to Allen, who is a National Account Manager and product support specialist in the gas pipeline industry. He travels extensively (at least 75% of the time). We have been blessed with three truly wonderful children, Kristi, who is married and lives in the Dallas metroplex area, is 24; Ashley, who is a junior in college and recently turned 21, which is the subject of many of my current layouts; and Travis, who begins his senior year of high school this fall and is 17. Ashley is a very artistic and creative young lady and enjoys scrapping along with me. She goal is to be a professional chef and to own and operate a small deli/bakery. Travis is an all-around outdoorsman who loves to fish, hunt, play on the water and just spend time with his friends. As for me - I work full-time as a legal assistant in an 8-attorney law firm and have been in the legal field for 24 years. I have been in my current job for 8 years and enjoy working with a wonderful group of Christian people. We handle transactional matters, do estate planning, probate and real estate work. If I every have the opportunity to take some photography classes - I would love to be a sports photographer!

8. Tell us about the things outside of scrapbooking that you enjoy. My favorite activity is sports, especially football. I have season tickets to our local high school games and won’t miss a game, even if my husband is out of town! We also enjoy traveling a great deal. Upon Travis’ graduation from high school and going off to college, I look forward to being able to join Allen more often on some of his many trips.

9. Tell us something about yourself that your Feeling Scrappy friends do not know. Our family activity for many years was riding 4-wheelers together. We enjoyed having a travel trailer and would take extended trips with our quads and several other families, to enjoy the sand, scenery and time together. I still need to scrap lots of these photos! I think I would enjoy having a motor home so we could continue our travels all across the United States while affording me the privilege of scrapping as we drive along. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true for a scrapbooker!

Here are a couple of her favorite layouts-

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Karen!

Class starts Monday!

2009-09-13T21:37:00.002-04:00

Just a quick reminder that our Simplify the Season Class starts Monday morning! We have a great class lined up - so if you have been thinking about joining us we hope you do! You can still sign up for this class until this coming Friday! For those of you that have already registered - lets get scrappy! :)

Falls Coming

2009-09-12T10:41:00.005-04:00

I love fall - the smell, the sunny days and cool evenings, and of course the beautiful fall colors. Have you ever taken a drive just to see the beautiful fall leaves, to photograph the beauty?
Here are some sites to help you plan your fall drive:

http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/fallfoliage/

http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/index.shtml

http://www.foliagenetwork.com/

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/features/fall/fall.htm

Edge punches

2009-09-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love using edge punches to add a fun border to a page or element! Here are some pages we have created using edge punches. I hope they inspire you to pull out those punches and scrap!

Layout by me:

Layout by Jayne Jones:

Layout by Stacey Curry:

Winner!!!

2009-09-10T09:18:00.003-04:00

The winner of our Simplify the Season class is....

Cheri said...
New to your site. I'm an online class junkie, so I'll have to keep this in mind when I'm looking for a new class!
September 8, 2009 5:40 PM

And since I always feel bad for those that don't win...anyone who left us a comment trying to win can e-mail me: feelingscrappy at yahoo dot com by Saturday night for a $5.00 off coupon!!

Congratulations Cheri! Please e-mail me and I will get you all set up for class! :)

Class Give Away!!

2009-09-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

When you check out Ella Publishing's new E-zine be sure to look for your favorite scrappy girl in the pages! :wink: To celebrate our part in the E-zine we are offering a give away to those Ella readers stopping by our blog for the first time as well as all our loyal readers!

Just leave a comment on this post by Wednesday night for a chance to win our Simplify the Season Class for free (a $25.00 value!) We will announce the winner by random drawing on Thursday! Good Luck :)

If you haven't checked out Ella yet just click the button below to have a look!

Stuffed Mushrooms

2009-09-07T12:51:00.003-04:00

This is a family favorite for sure!! They are sure to show up at any party or bbq the big family has!

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 package bacon, cooked and crumbled
16 ounces fresh button mushrooms, cleaned and stem removed

Mix bacon and cream cheese together until well blended. Stuff each mushroom. Place on in a baking dish with stuffing side up. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Enjoy!!!

School lunches- add a note!

2009-09-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

To add a bit of fun and love to your children's lunches, try adding a little note. you can simply scribble a note to them, make it cutesy with some scrappy supplies or print out a pre-designed one. Here are a couple of sites you can print out free notes.
http://www.alenkasprintables.com/lunchboxnotes.shtml
http://www.kidprintables.com/lunchboxnotes/

School Lunches

2009-09-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

With the kids back in school, I thought it would be fun to share some creative lunch box ideas. Here are a couple of sites I found with some great ideas. Even though my kids aren't in school full time yet, we still often pack lunches to eat while we are running errands or will be out during lunch time.

http://www.school-lunch-ideas.com/
http://www.thevisualguide.com/recipes.htm

Do you have any fun and easy ideas that your kids love in their lunch boxes?

A new sketch!

2009-09-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

We have a new sketch for you today, along with a few examples of pages using the sketch. If you use this sketch we would love to see it so be sure to stop back by and let us have a look! Love to use a sketch for a quick start on a page? Check out our next Sketchapalooza class coming October 26th :)

Jayne's page:

Stacey C's page:

Stacey L's page:

Have a great weekend!

Pumpkin Scones

2009-08-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

With Fall almost here, I am already thinking about pumpkin (I love pumpkin!) These pumpkin scones are delicious!! Don't be fooled by my awful photo...they are so yummy right out of the oven with some butter. They are tender, flakey and just so good. I hope you'll give them a try.

Pumpkin Scones
2 ½ cups flour (I used half whole wheat)
¼ cup brown sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp cloves
½ cup shortening
¾ cup pumpkin
½ cup milk

Directions:
1. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a big bowl and mix well.
2. Cut in the shortening using a pastry blender or two knives.
3. Combine the milk and pumpkin in a separate bowl and mix well.
4. Add the liquid to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
5. Use your hands to gently knead the dough. Be careful not to overmix it. It’s ok if it is a little loose.
6. Divide the dough into two parts and shape each one into about a 6 inch round on a baking sheet. Use a knife to cut them into wedges.
7. Bake at 450 for about 12-15 minutes until cooked through but still soft.
Serve warm with butter and enjoy!

Check out your state fair!

2009-08-29T14:18:00.003-04:00

I honestly love going to fairs! The animals, the lights, the games, the rides and oh the glorious food. (I feel a bit like Templeton the rat from Charlotte's Web when I leave!) Nothing like it - maybe it is so great because it only happens once a year. I found this web-site I would like to share with you that list the State Fairs. Just click on your state and it will take you to the web site for your fair. Have fun!

State Fairs

Share a Page

2009-08-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

For many the end of August brings county fairs and community carnivals and festivals. Here are a couple of layouts to get you inspired to scrap those photos you are sure to have.

Jayne's Layout:

Stacey L's Layout:

Lee's Layout:

Distress Crackle Paint

2009-08-26T07:00:00.008-04:00

Have you used these cool paints? I bought several colors about a year and half ago and although I have used them many times, they still tend to end up in the back of a drawer and become forgotten treasures. I recently pulled them all out to give them new life and start using them.

If they sit around for awhile, they can get very thick or even almost solid.

You can renew them by adding a little water and stirring them very well. (Start with a couple of drops and keep adding more as needed.)

Here’s one of mine that was almost solid and the end result after lots of stirring and shaking. Since mine had been sitting around for months (um, ok, maybe even over a year) most of mine needed some attention. (Unfortunately, I did have one of my nine bottles completely harden and I wasn’t able to save it!)

These paints are so much fun to work with and add a lot of character to a project. You can paint chipboard elements or even paint directly onto a page. Here are a couple of places I have used them:

If you’ve never tried Distress Crackle Paints, I hope you’ll consider picking up a jar next time you are shopping for scrappy supplies. And if you have some collecting dust , I challenge you to pull them out, revitalize them and use them on a crafty project!

Chocolate Crinkles

2009-08-24T15:05:00.002-04:00

My daughter, Abbie, has been baking up a storm lately so I thought I would share another one of her recent favorites. These brownie type cooks are perfect for chocolate lovers!

Chocolate Crinkles

4 squares (4 ounces) of unsweetened chocolate
3 eggs (beaten)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup powdered sugar

In a small sauce pan, melt chocolate squares over low heat. Remove from heat and let cool. In a large mixing bowl beat together eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla and cooled chocolate with a wooden spoon.

In a smaller bowl mix together the flour and baking powder. Slowly add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture until all is well blended. (This will be thick.) Cover and refrigerate for an hour or so until firm.

Form dough into 1 inch round balls and roll in powdered sugar then place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Farmers Market

2009-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

We love Farmer's Market's! I love visiting Farmer's Markets while traveling. Nice to pick up a loaf of artisan bread or some fresh berries.
If you are new to an area or traveling and want to catch a Farmer's market check out this list:
Farmers Market

A new card sketch!

2009-08-21T07:00:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday! Here is a *brand new* card sketch I created for you!! I hope it inspires you to make a special card for someone you care about.

My sample using this sketch-

Card by Jayne Jones:

Stacey Curry's card-

I would absolutely LOVE to see a card you make using this sketch so please take a picture and share the link with us in the comment section. :)

A Scrapbooker You Should Know!

2009-08-19T07:00:00.003-04:00

This month's featured Scrapper is Becky Rico. Many of you might know already know Becky through her time as a Guest DT member for Sketchapalooza 3 and the many classes she has taken with Feeling Scrappy. I know I find her work so inspiring! She does such a beautiful job capturing her memories with lots of beautiful photos put together beautifully on the page. She is also just a downright nice person! We asked Becky to answer a few questions so we could all get to know her better :)

How and when did you first start scrapbooking?
A friend invited me to a Creative Memories class in October 1993 right after the birth of my third child. I was hooked from the start. I always loved taking photos and had always put them in albums (the magnetic type- Yuck!). Scrapbooking gave me a wonderful and creative way to put them in the albums and to tell the story.

What is the most important aspect to scrapbooking to you?
I love documenting my family's lives through photos and stories - everything from events to everyday type things.

What are your favorite pages to work on?
Layouts about my kids. They are at a point in their lives where they aren't too cooperative around the camera though.

What if anything do you find hard to scrap?
Although I love taking scenery photos I find those the hardest to scrap.

What kind of camera do you use? Do you love it or hate it?
I have a Nikon D80 DSLR with several lenses and I absolutely love it! I take a lot of sport photos and this camera allows me to zoom into the action and take photos without any of the delays my previous digital cameras had.

What do you enjoy most about scrapbooking?
I love everything about it but I think reliving the memories and the actual creating are my favorite parts. I also love all the wonderful friendships, both in real life and through the internet, I have made because of scrapbooking.

Tell us a little about your family.
My husband Glen and I have been married for 22 years. We live in gorgeous Washington state overlooking the Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. We have three kids. Our oldest son will be a senior in college in Massachusetts, our 2nd son will be a freshman in college in California and our daughter will be a sophomore in high school. Our lives have centered around the kids and their activities for so long it will be very strange to have only one at home this year. We also have an aging chocolate lab named Jewel. As a family we enjoy sports and traveling.

Tell us about the things outside of scrapbooking that you enjoy.
I enjoy so many things. I love photography, but I also love quilting and knitting. My daughter just talked me into taking an art class with her. I really enjoy getting reintroduced to drawing and love that we can do it together.

Tell us something about yourself that your Feeling Scrappy friends do not know.
Oh, goodness. I really can't think of anything very interesting. Hmmmm. I was a gymnast as a tween/teenager and have the bad knees and shoulder to prove it.

Here are a couple of Becky's favorite layouts:

Organizing your photos - part 2

2009-08-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I shared some links to sites with tips on organizing photos. Today, I wanted to share with you how I sort mine. I'm not claiming that it's the best way or that it will work for everyone, but maybe it will give you an idea for organizing your own.

First of all, I try to transfer my photos from my camera memory card at least once a month. I sort these into monthly folders on my computer and then divide them up into various categories or events within each month. I try to go through them immediately to delete the really bad ones or shots I have several of or that are similar.

Now, I try to order photos at least every couple of months so I don't fall too behind and feel overwhelmed. Once I get them from the printers, I sort them immediately. I keep a separate section for each album that I have in progress. I use a system from Creative Memories, but any sort of photo box would work.

Within each section, I divide my photos into events or other categories that I want scrapped together. I keep these in chronological order because that is how I organize the layouts in my albums. (I hope you can see the writing on my tabs here.)

When I am ready to scrap, all I have to do is flip through to find a set that I feel like working on. I can fit a lot of photos in these boxes so even if I am months (or more) behind in scrapping, at least my photos are sorted and ready to use. This definitely makes scrapping less stressful and I can focus on teh fun and creative part of it.

I’d love to hear your tips on organizing photos! If you have any ideas, please share them in the comment section. Have a wonderful weekend and happy organizing!

Organizing your photos - part 1

2009-08-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

Do you organize your photos? Or are they all still in the envelopes from the printers? Or maybe they are still on the memory card in your camera? You might already have a system that works for you. But if not, I am going to share several links with you today about sorting and organizing. Tomorrow, I will share how I keep mine organized so I hope you'll stop back by then.

Here are some different sites that you can browse through for ideas on sorting and organizing (for both digital images on your computer and printed photos):
http://organizingyourphotos.com/
http://www.home-organizing-ideas.com/organize-photos.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Organize-Your-Photos
http://www.hgtv.com/organizing/organizing-photos/index.html

Tickled Pink Layouts

2009-08-14T17:39:00.004-04:00

In honor of Stacey Lokovic's new arrival next week we thought we would share a few layouts that feature the color pink. Stacey - we all wish you the best and can't wait to see your new little one! {{hug}}

Jayne's layout:
Stacey C's layout:

Stacey L's layout:

Getting to Know Lee Currie

2009-08-13T17:03:00.004-04:00

I wanted to take a moment to introduce you all to Lee Currie, our Guest Designer for the upcoming Simplify the Season Class. Lee is quite simply an amazing woman - I encourage you all to visit her blogs to see what I am talking about. You will love her work but more importantly you will love her spirit :) Lemons2Lemonade & Linar Studio

Below is a photo and little bio that Lee wrote up for us to share.
I am a very involved mother of our active children: Claire (13), Cole (12); Chloe (10) and Caden (9) and the wife of one entrepreneurial husband, Louis. Never a dull moment in or out of my house: many hours are spent in hockey rinks, at ball diamonds, on school grounds, on riverbanks and in auditoriums as parent, spectator and volunteer.

Going at a break-neck pace is not always a good thing, so to slow things down and add perspective, I document these events and the more everyday happenings. I want for my kids to look back at their childhoods and there be something to see. My spare time is spent making a mess in my studio, on the computer writing and blogging, and everywhere else playing with my new Canon 40D.

After 20+ years in the grocery industry, primarily in category management (merchandising) and developing private label product I knew I'd never go back after I was home with the kids. I went to my first scrapbook home party, and that was it, I found a way to combine my passions: photography, writing and paper. That was six years ago and I haven't considered stopping since!

Welcome Lee! You can learn more about the entire Feeling Scrappy Design Team here.