MY LIFE'S DESIGN

i heart digital scrapbooking...

2011-05-19T14:28:00.004-04:00

...with my background I'm surprised I have tried it before! Here's my first attempt, I really liked making it!

Although I miss the tactile joy of traditional scrapbooking, the digital version is much quicker and forgiving! You'll definitely see more of these from me....

a new business venture....

2011-05-09T19:32:00.006-04:00

So, what's new around here? I'm joining Madison Handbags as a sales consultant and very excited about it!

It's a company that lets you design your own handbag through home parties (a la Tupperware, but cooler). You choose the style, fabric - outside and in, and hardware. Where else can you get a purse custom made by you?

I'd been looking for a new business opportunity, when I was asked by one of the moms at my daughter's school to come to a "purse party". I almost didn't go, but am glad I did! One look and I was hooked (I have a bit of handbag addiction). You get a night out with the gals and an amazing purse! The styles and fabrics are plentiful and diverse, there's something for everyone. I haven't been able to stop talking about it!

So if anyone in the tri-state area would like to host a party, let me know! I think you'll be as impressed as I was!

you may have noticed...

2011-05-03T14:29:00.003-04:00

I've changed the theme of my blog. While I still LOVE scrapbooking, I was finding that my posts and interests were broader than a scrapbooking blog, so I've decided to branch out and I hope you will all come along for the ride! There will still be scrapbooking, don't fret. But there will be much more as well! Stay tuned...

summer's calling me....

2011-04-29T16:04:00.008-04:00

...and I'm answering big time!

I don't know if it's the warm weather finally breaking through in New York, but I'm craving big bright colors and bold patterns right now in a major way!!

I just received the Crate and Barrel outdoor catalog and LOVE the patterns and colors they're got going on, especially the Marimekko collection!!

Words can't express so here are my favorites...

Thank God I have no money or I'd have enough pillows to choke a horse right now! LOL!

What about you? Where are you seeing patterns that make you swoon?

yippee!!!

2011-04-25T07:41:00.005-04:00

I've been pretty preoccupied with a trip to the in-laws and Easter, plus my husband's birthday, so I haven't been able to post for a while (what else is new).

I have big news, at least in Sebbyland. I made a sale!!! I finally made a sale on Esty. The Emily Dickenson Hope Bird print ( which I admit is one of my favorites).

I must admit I was starting to doubt myself a bit, having opened shop a over a month without one. I have lots of views and even some folks who have added me to their favorites or their Showcases, but not a single sale! I'm very excited and renewed in my faith in Etsy. Let's hope it's the first of many!!!

some great wedding ideas!

2011-04-07T07:51:00.008-04:00

I went to a wonderful wedding this past month (yes, I'm just getting to write about it now, I'm so lame) and had to share some of the ingenious and new (at least to me) ideas the bride and groom used.

First to give credit where it's due...the lovely bride Gina and handsome groom Chris on their big day...

I only wish I had taken a camera so you could see the great little touches they had throughout!

First, instead of flowers on the tables they used Edible Arrangements. They are so yummy and practical, if you haven't had them, they're a fruit basket made to look like a bouquet. We were eating the "centerpiece" all night, it was a big hit!

They had a black and white wedding - the bridesmaids were in black gowns, and looked lovely. The groomsmen also in black and white (the groom wore Converse - I wish I had too) . All the favors and paper goods were black and white.

I had a black and white wedding too (so long ago), and am a little envious of this one....black and white cookies for wedding favors. I know, not such a big deal, but I just really liked the idea (and the cookies).

And for the last great little thing...instead of disposable cameras on the tables (OK, now I'm really aging myself) a little card with a Snapfish account and login to upload the guest's photos . How smart is that! To be fair, we didn't have Snapfish when we were getting married, but I wish we had!

Well that's all for now! See you all later!

wow, has it been that long?

2011-02-19T22:17:00.011-05:00

I guess time does fly when you're having fun!! A little update on my life lately, my youngest Emily just turned 1 year old this past month, can you believe it!?! She's starting to walk and is getting tooth # 4, so she's growing by leaps and bounds (so exciting for her and bittersweet for her momma).

And her big sister is keeping us busy too. Now that potty training boot camp is finally over I feel like I can breath again!

In honor of Emily's birthday, I thought I'd post some photos of her birthday celebration! Some of the ideas are borrowed (I'll try to credit the originals where I can) and some are my own. The whole idea for the circus theme came from two blog posts I saw a while ago by little.lovely and designmom. Two super amazing blogs for kids parties in particular and kids stuff in general!!! Seriously, if you're a mom, check them out!

The invitation is pretty much stolen straight from the party on designmom. But, I think I did it justice.

I made the circus tent pull pinata from scratch-that was an adventure, but I think it turned out well. Funny, all that work and it's destroyed in 2 seconds flat!

And, what circus party is complete without popcorn, balloon animals and a ringmaster? My niece Alexis dressed up and was our Mistress of Ceremonies.

We had a circus parade after the birthday song and cake time (for which the birthday girl cried). The kids had noise makers, clown noses and silly glasses to parade around in to get all the sugar highs out of their system (great trick for transitioning to an after-party mellower mood- if you can tolerate 15 minutes of pure chaos). All in all, lots of fun was had!

One last note! I'm not usually one for self-promotion, but I have finally gotten around to officially opening my Etsy shop, so stop by and take a look at some of the stuff I've been making!

everything old is new again...

2010-10-16T15:32:00.011-04:00

I'm so out of touch, but keeping up with a 7 month old will do that to ya!

Anyhow, I've been scrapping a little again and have rediscovered a few old supplies so I thought I'd share!

The first is a layout with my sister in law and niece. The old is a tag with random writing on it that I had no idea what to do with. It came with a card making kit, and although I didn't really love it, I liked some of the little snippets of text, so I chopped it up and used what I liked!

The next is a photo of my nephew, not the best quality so I used some grungy paper from Cosmo Cricket accented with some old scraps of blue paper, that happened to fit in with the color scheme, to frame the cog paper at the top and make a tab for his name next to the photo. Gotta use those scraps!

Finally, one of 3 cute little couch potatoes. I used ink to transform some old white sticker letters, and cut up a Fancy pants tag to frame out the photo. I didn't have a big number 3, so I made one out of some old kraft paper scraps and ink.

Hope there's something here that will spark you to use some of your old stash!!

gotta love freebies...

2010-08-12T19:58:00.004-04:00

...just for today scrapbook.com is giving subscriptions for free classes...so sign up fast!!!

Oh and they sell everything you could ever ask for scrapbooking-wise.

And, check out some of the agendas and checklists on momagenda.com, if you're hyper-organized like me, you'll love it!! And best of all, most of it's free!!!

Happy hunting, if you have any great freebies, please share!

i love love love this blog...

2010-08-08T22:11:00.005-04:00

...it's called little.lovely. and everything is just so beautiful and inspiring, especially if you're about to decorate a little one's bedroom, which I am. Give it a look-see, if you get a chance. I promise it's worth your while!

And, this recent post, is so great if you've got a dormered room and a need for lots of beds!!

Be back soon with new layouts!!

...taking a break

2010-08-05T19:22:00.004-04:00

I'm going to suspend the giveaways for a while until I get a chance to go through more stuff, so check back for new stuff in a few months. But, for now here's a new layout using a "file folder" allowing me to use 3 photos on one 8x8 page. It's a great technique since I only work in the smaller page format.

What space saving tricks do you guys use on your pages?

Here's the layout with the folder flipped open....

just be sure to cut a slit in the page protector for easy access!

this month's winner is...

2010-08-02T07:34:00.004-04:00

...Jen! Maybe you can give the prize to your little ones to fool around with, since I'm sure your time is short these days!

In honor of your win, here's a layout with your little munchkins! More to come soon!

july's giveaway and some layouts (finally)

2010-07-03T19:28:00.013-04:00

So, a while back I fell in love with jewelry making. Which is kinda funny, since I hardly wear jewelry myself (just my wedding band and watch really).

But it is fun, and I even made some necklaces for my wedding party to wear, although I think knowing now what I do, it would have been better to let them wear whatever they liked - they were a pretty amateur attempt at necklace-making, plus it was just another example of how I was kinda compulsive about the whole wedding planning thing, just ask my bridesmaids ;)

Anyhow, I still have quite a bit of jewelry-making supplies, more than anyone would ever need really, unless they were going into business. So, I'm offering some of it to you guys.

Since I'm confiding my compulsive behaviors to you, how about you just leave a note about something you've obsessed about and you could win some of the fruits of my compulsion, i.e. lots of beads, a few jump ring tools, some cute little boxes, pin backs and a few other assorted goodies (pictured below). I might add some more stuff, I still haven't weeded through it all yet.

Also, I have finally gotten around to scanning in a few scrapbook pages that I've managed to complete featuring my cute little nieces and nephew. And since this blog was supposed to be about scrapbooking, here you go!

I'll pick a winner for the newest giveaway on the 1st of August, so let the obsession confessions begin :) And a happy 4th of July to one and all!

and June's winner is...

2010-07-01T11:32:00.003-04:00

...Charisma3103 said...

"How about making mini popsicles out of koolaid and an ice cube tray and popsicle sticks or toothpicks"

Charisma, please email me your address and I'll get your stencils in the next day's mail!

As usual, I am ill-prepared for the next months giveaway, but I promise to have it up in the next day or two.

In the meantime, I have been feeling a little creatively blocked. I think partly it's because of my lack of free time, especially when it comes to scrapbooking. I have to sneak it in where I can, and it doesn't exactly make for an enjoyable crafting experience.

On the other hand, I'm trying find a way to make my hobbies into profitable ones. I joined Etsy, but have been having trouble figuring out what I want to sell.

I scrapbook, obviously. But I have a professional print background, and am pretty adept at desktop publishing/design. I make most of the invitations for my close family's functions and always get many compliments. The problem is that, it seems, so is everyone else these days.

My other crafting passion is sewing, but I'm not sure I'm good enough to sell my stuff...basically I lack confidence and the know-how to get a business going. Any advice?

My next post will (hopefully) not be so whiney :)

And it'll have a giveaway, and some of my recent scrapbook pages. Maybe it'll give me the kick in the pants I need to make something worth posting ;) ...So stay tuned...

in honor of father's day....

2010-06-20T10:21:00.005-04:00

I thought I'd share what we gave my husband as a gift. I printed it through Snapfish, framed it and he loves it!

It's a minor miracle I was able to get photos of even this poor quality together, between a 2 month old's squirming and silly faces from our toddler! But I think it's still cute.

I can finally use some of the prepress skills I left behind at work again ;)

A special nod to Kristin who inspired the project with a similar one a few years back!

And thank you to my wonderful husband who deserves more than just one day a year to celebrate what a fantastic father he is!

for the next giveaway...

2010-06-03T18:14:00.006-04:00

...sorry so late on this one! We've been enjoying this warm June weather so much, I lost track of time. We signed up for a dual membership for the local Children's museum and zoo, and I have to say it was well worth it! We've been to visit a few times already and my daughter loves it!

So for this round of "clear out Sebby's stash" I've selected a bunch of stencils that I've accumulated over the years. Mostly decorative painting stuff, mixed in with some scrapbooking stencils. To be honest, I never used any except for one, not sure why I bought them at all, but you know what they say, one person's trash...or in this case, unused stash...is another one's treasure!

There are some leaves, a country home stencil, a few holiday/winter themed ones, a 8x11 collage frame and a set of 4 paper dolls.

So, to be entered to win, just leave a post with an idea for a cool summer craft to do with your kids, or just to say Hi, and I'll announce a winner on July 1st (and I'll try to be prepared for the next giveaway this time too!). Don't forget to spread the word to your friends, I just love reading all your comments and ideas!

and the winner is...

2010-06-02T18:08:00.004-04:00

...lucky number 3, Melissa! So, please email me at sergul11215@aol.com with your mailing info, and I'll send out the stamps for you right away! Thanks for playing, and I'll have the new giveaway later this week, so please check in again!!

happy memorial day!

2010-05-31T09:06:00.004-04:00

Just dropping a note to wish everyone a wonderful memorial day full of BBQs, family, friends, and hopefully at least a little grateful reflection on those who fight to secure the marvelous freedoms we hold so dear!

And, on a personal note, happy birthday to my fun and talented sister-in-law, Tara!

Just a reminder, I'll be drawing for the winner of the Technique Tuesday stamps tomorrow morning - just leave a message on my April 14th post and you could win - and hopefully posting a new giveaway! So stay tuned!

a happy mother's day to all!

2010-05-09T09:38:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone has a great mom's day! Mine started yesterday with a nice, peaceful (and long overdue) haircut! And continued this morning with two smiling girls and one wonderful husband. Followed up with homemade cards (the best) and a satisfying breakfast.

To celebrate here's a link for a cool printout by AmbrosiaGirl, if your hubby needs some hints for this or any other Mother's Day!

And here's a poem I read online (can't remember where I copied it from, sorry) to inspire us all!

Song for a Fifth Child

Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth

empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

hang out the washing and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo,

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

So, enjoy your little ones and have a lovely day!!!

finally getting back into the groove...

2010-04-14T17:03:00.012-04:00

So having a baby obviously dramatically impacts life as you know it, but I had no idea how having a second one is even more of an adjustment! I figured having been through the whole thing already, it'd be easier this time around. I didn't count on the complexities of balancing the needs of a newborn and a two and a half year old!

If you have read my previous posts, you might recall I had high hopes of reorganizing and whittling down my craft space to a more managable size. And, I promised that my readers would reap the rewards. So, in that spirit, I have (very slowly) begun the job of sifting through my stuff.

So far, I have gotten through my clear acrylic stamps. Like I said, it's going to be a slow process :)

I'm hoping to get through at least one section of my stash a month, so I have two stamps (brand new, in the package) to give away for the month of May! They are two Technique Tuesday stamps...

Just leave me a comment, either advice for a second time around mom, or just to say "Hi". I'll draw a winner randomly on June 1st and hopefully announce June's giveaway too!

welcome the newest Curley!

2010-03-03T18:34:00.003-05:00

I have such little time since my littlest Curley joined the family, but I can't not publish a quick post! Excuse me for my short leave of absence, I promise to be back as soon as I'm back on both feet!

Our beautiful Emily Grace joined our family on February 24th at 11:23pm, and life has been so very hectic and wonderful ever since! She's two weeks early but that's just 2 more weeks we'll get with her!

Without further ado...

top three things I'm craving right now (aside from chocolate)...

2010-02-18T17:36:00.006-05:00

The Wacom Bamboo

The Kindle

and a Cricut Expression

Funny that they're all electronics (and way too expensive for me right now, LOL)

What are you craving lately?

a Christine Kane article that felt like a kick in the pants...

2010-02-10T12:16:00.002-05:00

OK. I know I"m gonna sound like a Christine Kane disciple, but I have to post another article by her, and I promise to post some of my own stuff really soon! But this one really hit home and sometimes you read something that 's so obvious you want to smack yourself in the forehead! So, I hope you get as much out of this as I did...

9 Simple Solutions for Procrastinators
by Christine Kane

Irony: As I started to write this article, I thought, "I'll just go play one Sudoku game first." I caught myself in the act and marched to my laptop.

People who say that procrastination is about laziness are probably the same people who think that anorexia is about not eating enough.

Procrastination isn't about laziness. It's about fear. It's about perfectionism. It's about overwhelm. We all experience it, and there are some tricks to help you get moving again.

Here are 9 ways to break the procrastination habit:

1 - When you get an idea, do some little thing to begin.

When I read Stephen King's book On Writing, I noticed something. I noticed that when Stephen King gets an idea, he writes it. Immediately and imperfectly.

Most people get an idea. Then they sit there. They wonder if it's a good idea. Then, they wonder if it's a good idea some more.

Got an idea? Begin it now!

2 - All hail small chunks of time!

Lots of us complain about having no time. My guess is that we all have lots of time. It just doesn't happen to be all at once.

Are you waiting for many hours of spare time to begin your idea, your project, or your taxes? Stop waiting! Learn to use the spare half hour that comes up here and there. (I gave myself 45 minutes to write this article just to take my own advice.)

3 - Agree to do it badly.

Set a goal to do it badly. Set a goal to show up. Let go of doing it ALL, or doing it WELL.

Some of my coaching clients' biggest victories have a lot more to do with getting over perfectionism and fear, than they do about getting it all done perfectly.

4 - Commit aloud.

Call a friend and say something like this: "I'm going to spend the next half hour working on my Law School Essay." Then go do it.

Call the friend after the half hour and make her congratulate you. Repeat daily.

5 - Define quantities.

Nebulous goals make for nebulous results. "I'm gonna get my office organized" is a lot like saying, "We oughtta do something about Global Warming."

Most procrastinators have a hard time defining quantities. We think everything needs to be done NOW.

When are you going to do it? For how long? Which part of your office? The file cabinet? Or your desk?

Define the goal and acknowledge its completion.

6 - Install this System Upgrade into your Mental Hard Drive: Less is More.

Have fewer goals. Have no more than three priorities for a week.

Why?

Because you're not lazy. You're just trying to do too much.

Find out what it feels like to accomplish one thing instead of not quite getting to everything. Wow - what a difference this makes!

7 - Do it first.

My first coach made me write songs first thing in the morning. He told me to schedule the 2-hour chunk as my first activity upon waking.

Why?

"Because you're telling the universe that this is your priority. And then the universe lines up everything to align with your priority."

Action grounds your priorities. It makes them real. It also makes your day easier because you're not wasting energy thinking about this thing you're supposed to be doing.

8 - Avoid nose-bleed activities.

Email, voicemail, web stats - any activity that bleeds itself into your whole day becomes a non-activity. It becomes a nose-bleed.

When you do it all the time, you never complete it. You just let it slowly drain the very life force from you. Define times for these activities. Then, turn off your email, your cell phone, your web stats, until that time comes.

9 - Don't ask how you "feel" about doing the activity.

Have you ever committed to getting fit? And then when the alarm goes off, you lie in bed thinking, "Do I really feel like going to the gym?" (Like you even have to ask!)

Change this pattern. Make your decision the night before. Commit to getting up and going right to the gym, the computer, the blank canvas. Don't have coffee and sigh and think, "I'll probably feel more like it at lunch time." You won't!

If it's a priority, don't waste time asking yourself how you feel about doing it. Feelings are an easy out.

——————————————

There. I did it. I wrote this article. And now, I don't even want to play Sudoku! How about that?

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative atwww.christinekane.com.

counting down the days...

2010-01-29T11:57:00.006-05:00

...til my littlest one is born. I'm due March 10th, but am feeling HUGE! People keep asking me when I'm due which is a pretty good indication to me that I'm carrying big ;)

She's already over 5 pounds now, but feels more like 10, LOL. I think it's partly because I'm pretty short, so there's not much room in there for her to stretch out.

Still up in the air over a name, we're torn between Emily Grace or Abigail Grace. It's seems much harder this time, but I think that's just compared to my first daughter, which we agreed on immediately. I mean like, I said "How about Sarah Elizabeth?" and my husband said "OK". End of conversation. Done.

Anyone out there have an opinion? I'm thinking of taking a poll...I'm laughing at the idea of naming my baby by internet committee right now :)

a really good resource...

2010-01-13T16:56:00.002-05:00

Below I've copied an article from a newsletter I read by Christine Kane. I've long been toying with the idea of starting a little side business and started reading her stuff on marketing and entrepreneural success and I recommend her. It's a lot of common sense stuff, but I find it very helpful, I hope you do too!

I recently opened an Etsy shop, that right now remains empty, but this article was a good kick in the pants, so look out for an announcement of a grand opening!

The Top Ten Mistakes Solo-preneurs Make in Business
by Christine Kane

The entrepreneurial spirit runs wild in us creative types.

Whether graphic designer, author, or coach - the possibility of freedom and self-generated income is so appealing!

However, many get quickly burnt-out and disillusioned on this path. That's because no one teaches us how to have a business AND be creative all at once. It's quite a challenge!

So, from my very own Been-There-Done-That files, here are the Top 10 Mistakes Solo-preneurs Make in Business…

1 - Not scheduling Vision-Time.

If you don't take time away from your business for visioning and thinking, it's easy to become a reactor, not a creator.

A business is dynamic and organic. (So are you!) Shape and create your business by taking time out for planning and visioning your desires and new directions.

2 - Too much Vision Time!

Some people are forever analyzing and planning, afraid of doing the wrong thing or of failure. At some point, you must take action. Just know that failure is only failure if you give up!

3 - Waiting for rescue.

Book deals. Hit records. Getting on Oprah. A huge IPO.

Hey, great things can and DO happen all the time in life. However, waiting for something to "sweep you away" is a surefire path to frustration.

Having a business is an on-going relationship. It can be remarkable! But like any relationship, it requires attention and action. Hoping for rescue is a sign that you're afraid of the potential of your own power!

4 - Living in the "Field of Dreams."

Remember these amazing words?

"If you build it, they will come."

Really? I can do that, and everything else will be taken care of?

Well, sort of. There IS truth in that famous line.

But too often, people think it means, "All I have to do is put up my sign - and the world will rush to my door."

This can lead to disillusionment. That's because "building it" is not a one-time thing!

Here's another way to look at it:

"If you build it they will come. But if you build it and market it, they'll pay you!"

5 - Making problems a problem.

Donald Trump advises something that contradicts every positive thinking tenet out there. He says to expect problems.

Yes, even if you're a mindset junkie!

Glitches, hiccups, snafus. Hey, they happen. (Like my new web design hitting bumps in the road!) Too often, we let problems paralyze us, and steal our time and emotions. Successful people expect "problems," and always put their focus on finding the solution!

6 - Taking numbers personally.

Much of business is a numbers game. Sometimes the numbers are low. Sometimes they're high!

Numbers are just numbers. They are not the Universe's way of telling you that you should give up and get a job at The Gap!

7 - Waiting to "feel like it."

Creative types often don't market themselves until they "feel like it." Which - let's face it - is never!

Marketing works best as a system. Robert Middleton says, "Marketing is not only about being known, it's about not being forgotten." In other words, learn how to market so you won't have to dread it!

(If you don't know how or what to market, then you definitely need to be on my teleseminar on January 20! Click here to sign up!)

8 - The Cycle of Reactivity And Panic.

Is this you?

Every now and then, you realize you have no clients. You react. You go on a marketing/cold-calling binge. You fill your schedule. And for months, you panic – you can barely breathe, let alone hire someone or continue marketing.

Sure enough, it shifts. The projects end. The clients are gone. Suddenly, your calendar is empty. The cycle begins again.

I call this the Cycle of Reactivity And Panic. (C.R.A.P.) It is one of the unhealthiest habits out there. Set an intention to create a new pattern.

9 - Status-before-Spotlight Thinking.

All too often, we wait to "deserve" the spotlight. We hope for enough status, letters after our names, or training before we'll make the slightest move toward a bigger opportunity.

News Flash: No amount of outside status can create worthiness. Success happens when we take chances and play bigger, regardless of outside status.

10 - Not investing in yourself.

Every successful entrepreneur invests time and money in herself and her business. She attends workshops and teleseminars. She hires coaches.

Too many of us go it alone. This leads to limited thinking, isolation, and burn out.

When an opportunity arrives, don't ask: "How much does it cost to do this?" Ask instead: "How much will it cost me NOT to do this?" This simple question has changed my life!

---

two posts in one day, what's the world coming to?

2009-12-30T17:27:00.003-05:00

Have you heard this expression:

"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels - unknown"

I believe I've come up with two more options!

1. Laugh, as you watch your two-year-old throw snow boulders at you husband while he shovels

and

2. Stay inside and drink hot chocolate until it all melts away ;)

what to do with all those holiday card...

2009-12-30T17:04:00.002-05:00

I stumbled on this post again this year. I've personally made these ornaments before. They're a little tedious, but totally worth it - and very green! Just be careful, if you use too big of a circle, the ornaments turn out huge!

http://www.junkmailgems.com/DIY_Ornament.html

Or, you can donate your cards to St Jude's ranch (http://stjudesranch.org/help_card.php) where they turn "the previous year’s Christmas cards into "new" cards for the coming season. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive "green" holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of "going green"."

a super cool giveaway!

2009-12-16T18:30:00.004-05:00

Check this out! They're giving away a Letterpress here , and I encourage everyone to take a look. I so want one of these (but my pocketbook - and husband- keeps telling me no). If someone else wins it through the link in this post, I'll be super-jealous! LOL

Good luck!

wow, am I a dead beat or what?

2009-12-09T16:55:00.026-05:00

...it's been two months since my last post! I must admit this second pregnancy has taken much of the wind out of my sails, but I'm in month 7 now and finally starting to feel like I have some energy (although I'm big as a house already, LOL).

So, I'll try to give you a little taste of everything I've been up to this time around, and make a solemn promise to be a better blogger (really).

I have been scrapbooking, but not nearly as much as I'd like. I end up spending more time scribbling with my daughter than anything else in my craft room these days (but I think that's OK, too). And, actually I've been doing a lot of "catch-up scrapping", meaning old pictures that never made it to a layout, but instead languished in a box on a shelf somewhere for years. I think I'm working on 2004 now...I know, pathetic.

I do have to wonder if maybe I should have left them there, since I'm feeling somewhat uninspired by most of them. What is your opinion on the matter? I'd really like to know. I know you don't need to scrapbook all the images you print, but what do you do with them?

I can't get past this, and I think it's keeping me from working on projects that really matter more to me. I'm getting some photo sleeves sized for my 8x8 albums and I think I'll just slip in the shots that I'm not too crazy about and just mix it in with with the rest of my scrapbook. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I really do plan on posting some of these layouts, but haven't been overly impressed with anything lately, so I'll try to post some after the holidays I think, once I've had more time to get some more stuff done.

To tide you over in the meantime, here are a few of my favorite sites that you might like to check out!

For anyone who's not familiar with her, Cathy Zielske is one of my favorite scrapbooking "personalities". Her blog: http://cathyzielske.typepad.com/, is chock full of lots of cool info, great templates for both digital and hybrid scrapbooking and layout ideas. She's funny and super approachable, both design-wise and in teaching style. I highly recommend her if you're looking to make the leap to digital.

Also, for those of you who like Photoshop (as a scrapbooking tool or just for photo editing), here's a great site: http://www.photoshopkillertips.com/. Again, very approachable, but you really need to be somewhat Photoshop savvy to begin with for this one. Great shortcuts and tips on making your Photoshop experience more...awesome.

Lastly, in an effort to organize and streamline my scrapping, I'm cleaning out some of my crafting/scrapping supplies for the new year. So, look out in the new year also for a giveaway of some of my...ahem...castoffs. No really, it'll have some really cool stuff in it, I promise. Some new, a few gently used, but all very nice! And, hey, it's new to you, right?

Have a great holiday! See you next year!

a recycled quote...

2009-10-14T17:37:00.003-04:00

...that I've seen lately, but really like....

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.

-Mary Jean Iron

That's all for now, more to post soon!

an announcement and some layouts

2009-09-19T11:41:00.015-04:00

First the announcement for those who don't know, though I'm not sure how you couldn't. Our families aren't exactly great secret keepers! We're expecting our second baby in March - don't know the sex yet, hopefully we'll find out at the next sonogram..

Next, I've been scrapping like a fiend lately - since my daughter has learned to entertain herself a little better. Although that'll come to a screeching halt in March ;)

But, for now I have some layouts to share....

I have an album dedicated to our wedding, but I've been scrapping 2001 & 2002 stuff lately and thought it'd be weird to not have one layout in the album for 2002 of our wedding.

This is my favorite picture of us at our wedding and also our thank you card shot, so I picked it to represent the day.

I was trying out some monochromatic stuff and like how it turned out ( although it's a little hard to see the detail onscreen, sorry).

You'll see a lot of photos of my niece Alexis from these years (I call it this my "Alexis period"). She's such a character, she provides a lot of fun material to work with.

The following albums will begin my "Nicholas period", since that's when my nephew was born.

Hopefully, I'll have some layouts of him soon to post (after I check with his mom it's OK, of course!).

More Alexis...and I'm finally using some of the supplies I've been hoarding all this time.

I especially like the Anna Griffin and Martha Stewart labels I used here (if you ever want any supply info, just let me know, I actually do track this stuff, with an adhesive label on the back of my layouts).

I'm always so inspired by some of the quotes I hear or read and I keep a list of my favorites, this photo made me think of one by John Whitehead.

And, I tried out stapling an acrylic heart to this one (again a little hard to see, sorry, I need a better scanner). I always have such trouble attaching clear stuff, and wasn't sure I'd like the look, but I really do. My stapler has been making a much more frequent appearance on my layouts lately.

Maybe I'll have more next week! See you all soon!

our giveaway....

2009-09-10T16:42:00.008-04:00

...wasn't given away. So, since the lovely Michelle hasn't gotten back to me, I feel I should select a new winner. Drumroll please...the winner is...

Kristin!!! Hopefully, we'll have better luck this time with our winner!!! Look out for more giveaways, and I'll be posting some layouts (I've been scrapping like a fiend lately), now that my computer's up and running again!

still adjusting...

2009-08-20T17:39:00.021-04:00

....back to life in the real world. It's so hard to get back into the swing of things after a vacation, isn't it? Well, I'm working on some new layouts to post (probably on Sunday) but here's a cool website to tide you over 'til then...it's called "ohdeedoh" (http://www.ohdeedoh.com)...

And, it's about "home.design.children", right up my alley and maybe your's?

Some cool stuff/ideas I'm itching to steal....err....try out myself ;)

How cool is the blue and orange colors in this room (not my favorite combo usually), plus the cute cloud shelves.

And these hoops are great, instead of a mobile you have to remove once baby is crawling or standing...

I think I might make a set of oversized letter pillows and use it to teach Sarah how to spell her name.

Or do a smaller version of the whole alphabet and spell all sorts of stuff!

Hmmmm, my wheels are turning...

This is like the holy grail of play houses, am I right? And, I've got a dormered attic just begging for the treatment...

For displaying Sarah's numerous works of fine art...

Well, check them out, so much cool stuff in the archives...and I'll be back soon with some of my own stuff to share!

And our winner is.....

2009-08-13T07:13:00.004-04:00

....Michelle!! Lucky number 8!! Thanks to everyone who participated in our little drawing, I hope to do it again! It was so much fun reading your comments and all about your inspiring projects! I'm already thinking about planting a vegetable garden next year, so I might need to get some advice from you all!

Michelle, please contact me with all your information, so I get your prize to you! Just email me at sergul11215@aol.com and we'll get the ball rolling!

a cool giveaway from livingroomsdirect.com!!

2009-08-06T16:21:00.086-04:00

So, I was approached this week with the wonderful offer to do a $30 gift card giveaway from www.livingroomsdirect.com. How cool is that?!

Now, you may ask, what can I get for thirty buck? Well, let me show you....

If your a magazine reader like me, check out this chrome magazine rack from Spectrum:

If you're a hyper-organized scrapbooker (like yours truly), a cool Iris tote like this would probably fit the bill:

I like this OIA ebony bin, they also have one with a lid...

And how about this cute wire basket, it's from a company called Glenna Jean. Sweet for a nursery, bath or bedroom, I think I want one!

I love Skip Hop's stuff and they have both table top organizers and bigger bins in cream and brown...I've always seen them in nurseries, but really it can go anywhere.

Skip Hop has lamps too. For the mod baby's room...

And, you know I can never pass up something with monkeys...this lamp's from LumiSource.

For a sweet little girl's room or a shabby chic office...from CoCaLo Baby.

And, lastly...OK this one's $32 bucks, but so worth it, from New Arrivals, a star caddy for a kid's room. Too cute!

OK, so I probably sound like a salesperson by now, but really they have a lot of affordable home decor stuff (and of course living room furniture too...you could put the $30 towards a new sofa, an entertainment center, an ottoman, anything really), check it out for yourselves!

And, if you'd like to win this prize, all you have to do is leave a post here telling us all about a cool project you've completed lately, whether it be scrapbook-related, something for your home or anything at all! Maybe you'll inspire someone to try something new!

I'll post the winner this upcoming Wednesday evening! Can't wait to see what great stuff you all have been up to!!

i promise to get more layouts & tips on here soon....

2009-08-06T12:39:00.023-04:00

...but to hold you over 'til then, I thought I'd introduce you to Etsy - if you haven't already checked it out yet, that is!

Etsy is a marketplace for handmade items, sold by individuals all over the world. You can buy, sell or browse just about any handmade project or supplies. It's very cool and there's all sorts of amazing creative stuff for purchase (or inspiration). You can browse by category or color, run a search, shop locally, almost anything! You can buy stuff for your home, kid's stuff, clothes for yourself, woodworking projects, jewelry, quilts, it goes on and on....all handmade! You can even buy high quality supplies for your own projects.

And, try the "pounce" feature if you like a little serendipity! It randomly selects different shops, and you can find all sorts of things you might never have even thought of (or knew you wanted).

I'm thinking of starting a shop myself maybe during my next maternity leave (fingers crossed)!

If past experience has taught me anything, it's that pregnancy seems to send me in so many different creative directions!

Here's a few gems I've mined in my few minutes on Etsy today!

bitofwhimsyprims is the name of this shop - how cute is this little lamb? And they're got lots of different stuffed animals and even patterns to make your own!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5062394

this shop's name is SweetSavannahBaby, sweet is definitely the word for this little girl and her pretty hat!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6407702

This print is from nelladesign's shop, it's a custom print made to reflect your family on card stock, you can even give her a photo of your family that she converts to a silhoutte for an additional fee. How cool is that! Really thinking about this one! And, $20 plus tax & shipping isn't too bad!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5587246

I had to add this one from citefuzz's shop because I love all things monkey on babies!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=87711

So, I hope you check it out and maybe support your local craftsperson! There's so much, I could go on and on, but see for yourself! Be back in the next few days with some layouts to share!

some cool kids stuff I've seen lately online

2009-07-31T15:16:00.006-04:00

...and can't wait to try or buy! This'll be a short post, but the links are worth a look, I promise!

http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2009/07/alphabet-block-magnets.html - such a fun project, definitely gonna try some variation of this!

http://www.printpatternpaper.com/index.php?option=com_supacart&page=shop.browse&category_id=13 - these posters are so pretty, thinking about getting a numbers and alphabet one for my daughter's room.

http://wendysmedley.typepad.com/possibilities/2009/06/summer-bingo-09.html - my daughter's too young for this idea this year, but maybe next year!

http://www.lmnop.com.au/index.html - I really like this online kids magazine!

Enjoy!

some layouts with techniques and tips

2009-07-25T17:54:00.010-04:00

I promised I'd get some more layouts on here, so here goes!

The first layout is about my sister-in-law. We are as close to opposite as I can imagine, and yet somehow we became fast friends! (If you read the journaling, the bit about her being determined to dislike me at first are her words, not mine! LOL!) Ironically, it was our interest in crafting that brought us together, another reason it pays to be creative! Making friends with future in-laws!

This was also my first time using chipboard (title letters), I've always avoided it because I'm impatient and didn't want to wait for it to dry if I painted it...so here's a tip for other folks with a short attention span like me, color them in with sparkly gel pens, they dry fast and look pretty cool! The photo of the layout doesn't do the glittery effect justice, but it's very nice.

The next one's my first attempt at "scraplifting", although it's so different from the original, I can hardly say it's a scraplift. I tear out layouts I like from magazines to keep in an idea file, but never did much with it except organizing it over and over (another of my hobbies, I love to organize stuff, goes hand-in-hand with my scrapbooking obsession really). When it came to making a page for this photo I was stumped, so I pulled out a layout from my files, and gave it a try, and I'm pretty happy with the results!

I liked this photo despite it's flaws because it reminded me of that simple joy you only experience as a child. It didn't matter that I was half cut off in the frame, I wanted to get that feeling down on paper, and now I'm reminded of it every time I see this layout.

Sometimes it's just enough to scrap a feeling, the everyday routine, or a small but meaningful memory, rather than just birthdays and special occasions. I want to leave an impression of myself on my albums, so someone who never met me will have a sense of who I was, once I'm gone. I hope this page accomplishes that.

Have a great weekend, I hope I might have sparked some ideas, more to come next week!

weighing my options

2009-07-23T18:37:00.004-04:00

I've been considering what scrapbooking consulting company I might work for after baby #2, and started some research online. I think I've settled on Memory Works.

They have all the great brands I love to work with (7gypies, cosmo cricket, sassafras lass, etc) and a low-pressure sales philosophy that I can really get behind. The earning potential isn't as great as some of the other companies (although some of them seem a little"pyramid-ish" to me), but I think the other factors outweigh that. If I want to make a change, to start a career that'll make me happy and that I find fulfilling, I think this is the better way to go. Plus, I get to sell stuff I really like to use myself!

I enjoy teaching people stuff, I was a pretty good sales person in my day (not in the pushy-aggressive-way, but in a conversational, excited-about-my-product-way), and I love scrapbooking, so I think being a consultant is ideal. I can have parties and crops and meet other folks who like the same things I do.

Anyone out there that has any experience with Memory Works? I'd love to hear from them!

some faves

2009-07-17T17:46:00.010-04:00

So, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things today....

Let's start with this project, I just love it: (http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/nesting/2009/06/diy-iron-on-onesies.html)

definitely doing this for baby #2, isn't it a great way to save onesies that have a small stain down the front!

Also, I'm digging my ghost shapes from Heidi Swapp right now, especially the snowflakes (check out my "Ice Skating" layout from June).

And, for sure, gotta love the cool border punches that EK Success has out, they lock flat so you can store them more easily, I especially like the dotted scallop punch (http://store.scrapbook.com/ek-ekpl8026.html)....actually everything scalloped is calling to me, I think I'm entering a girly phase.

More later!

two posts in one day, oh my!

2009-07-15T14:44:00.002-04:00

I've been absent for a while, so I thought I'd make up for it.

My daughter moved into her toddler bed yesterday...I'm tearing up just thinking about it. We heard her stirring in her room yesterday morning and my husband went to check on her, to find her outside of her crib. She'd crawled out, she's not even two. I don't know how she managed it, but I didn't want to take any chances that we'd have a repeat performance.

Anyway. My hubby converted the crib to a toddler bed, and Sarah had just a blast crawling in and out of it afterward. I think I said something like, 'great, if she can get out to her toys and things, maybe we'll get a little extra sleep while she keeps herself entertained'. I should have known better. Last night, she woke around 2 a.m., and so did we. She wouldn't settle down and since we're both working today, we took her into bed with us. And, we all suffered for it. No one slept well and I think we were all pretty crabby this morning. Sarah even punched me square in the nose at once point, really hard. Oh well, try again tonight!

On a different note, while my dh was reconstructing the crib, I took Sarah into the backyard to play, where she promptly found and picked up a dead bird. Needless to say, I freaked out and ran into the house with her...where she was purell-ed and scrubbed within an inch of her life.

Being the neurotic I am, I called her doctor and the NYC department of health to confirm that I didn't need to get her shots or something. I know they thought I was nuts and they both said "...as long as she didn't stick her hand in her mouth after" (which I wouldn't let her) "she's OK, just be sure to watch her for any cold-like symptoms". I'm wasn't very comforted by that, but I guess my husband's 'you've finally lost your mind' glance got me to shut up.

So that was my long weekend at home with the family. How was your's?

not sure what to make of it...

2009-07-15T10:01:00.003-04:00

So, my boss was let go yesterday, out of the blue. They're hiring some big consultant to take over 4 departments that they fired the heads of, in an effort to consolidate and streamline. I don't think I'm really at much risk, since I'm one of the more experienced (and yet underpaid) members of our department, but you never know.

Part of me hopes they offer me a package to leave, so I can spend some time at home enjoying my baby girl before we have baby #2. Funny that in this economic climate, while everyone is scrambling for work, I can't wait to get out. I think that says something about my situation.

I read a quote somewhere by Steve Jobs where he said if you look at yourself in the mirror too many days in a row, and you aren't happy about what you're doing, you should change it.

I was thinking about starting a Creative Memories consulting business up, after baby #2. Anyone out there have any advice or experiences with it they'd like to share?

oh happy day!

2009-07-10T17:06:00.005-04:00

After much prodding and cajoling my wonderful husband has finally consented to upgrading to a HD Tivo!

You must understand, I simply love my Tivo. As I tell my hubby, "Tivo is my friend". My semi-obsession began with an 80-hour beauty I received as a Christmas present from DH (little did he know what he had started) back in 2003.

We then got another one for the TV upstairs, to record shows that overlapped those on the first one (mind you, this is pre-children, when we were TV addicts).

Then we bought the mother of all TVs. A 50 inch HD panasonic, just so sweet. Yes, I'm a little bit of a guy when it comes to electronics and gadgets. So now, the Tivo is standard def, the TV is so crystal clear and you can definitely see the difference.

And, so the HD Tivo campaign began. Every chance I could get, I'd remind Mike how great it'd be to have the new model so we could watch Lost and our other shows in HD (I guess it could be considered pestering, hmmm....)

And finally after what seemed like forever, the web site had a deal that Mike was willing to go for. So, yippee! Happy day! It's on order, just a matter of time til I'm in HD recording heaven!

a show of appreciation

2009-07-02T12:56:00.001-04:00

I've recently spent a lot of time reflecting on my family and friends, thinking about how important they are to me. It's funny we spend such little time expressing these things to each other, and yet it's so crucial. I think sometimes it's hard to say this stuff in person. So I've started to try to express in my layouts some of the wonderful things I recognize in those around me...maybe I'll inspire some of you to do the same!

let's try something a little more upbeat today

2009-07-02T09:47:00.014-04:00

Since I was such a downer yesterday, I thought I'd try to have a more positive post today...

I received an email from my sister-in-law this past week about my nephew's progress.

Nicholas was born with Fibular Hemimela, a lower limb deformity, where his one Fibula is shorter than the other. He's had his 2nd corrective surgery to attach his fixator, has completed the lengthening of his bone and is now going through the process of "consolidation".

For more info about this procedure, check out these links: www.savealimbfund.org/ or www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107211166071

He's come through it all with flying colors! He was cheering throughout the house, my SIL said, after the last turns were done on his fixator. To think that not so long ago, someone like my nephew would have no recourse but to have an amputation, it's simply amazing how much progress there's been.

I'm just so very grateful not only for the incredible medical advances that have made these corrective surgeries possible, but I'm also in such awe of both Nick and his family's perseverance and the wonderful upbeat attitude they maintain through such a difficult process. Being witness to their strength in the face of this adversity makes me truly thankful for all that I have, and grateful for having such extraordinary people in my life.

If you'd like to help others like my nephew, or know someone who has a limb deficiency, the Save A Limb Fund helps families afford the incredible and life-altering limb saving procedures I've mentioned above, please give whatever you can: www.savealimbfund.org

how is it july already? seriously....

2009-07-01T12:15:00.003-04:00

I just can't believe it. I brought my daughter to daycare this morning with her swimsuit on under her clothes...today's the first day for Water Play!

I was so sad to leave, I really wanted to watch her running around through the sprinklers with her little friends. I bet it's just so adorable!! Yet another reason I'd love to be a stay at home mom...she'd be running around in my backyard through the sprinklers today. Sorry about the whining, I think it's gonna be one of those posts.

Summer's here and the new office my company moved into has windows everywhere, except the cubicle that I'm in. They have somehow managed to put our department in the only location without any natural sunlight whatsoever. Can't even daydream while wistfully staring at the big building next door ;) -Gotta love New York!

Anyhow, hopefully I'll have time to post some more layouts soon...keep a look out!

as promised...

2009-06-28T21:22:00.010-04:00

I said I'd post some layouts I'd been working on, so here goes...

More later....

my version of the "The Simple Woman's Day Book"

2009-06-28T21:17:00.003-04:00

Saw this on Ali Edwards and Cathy Zielske's blogs, and thought it'd be fun....

TODAY

June 28th, 2009

Outside my window...cars driving down the street, and kids yelling as they play tag

I am thinking...about how nice my weekend was, spending time with family and getting things done around the house

I am thankful for...my wonderful husband and beautiful daughter, a roof over our heads and food on our table. Our health and the wonderful friends and family we all have.

From the kitchen...we had middle eastern cuisine tonight, falafel, couscous and salad, YUM!

I am wearing...grey sweats, no socks

I am creating...layouts going back to 2002-2003, old pictures I never got around to, it's nice to look back at some old photos.

I am going...to spend the day with my daughter tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to it...might go to the zoo, if the weather holds up!

I am reading...nothing, sadly! I have a stack of books next to the bed, maybe I'll pick up the Sookie Stackhouse books soon, the box set's in the stack...

I am hoping...shhh...it's a secret...to maybe be pregnant...cross your fingers!

I am hearing...my husband watching "The Next Food Network Star" in the room next door and the ceiling fan running overtime...it's getting hot!

Around the house...there's lots of kids toys and stuff, under control right now, but wait 'til Sarah's up in the morning :)

One of my favorite things...aside from family time...scrapbooking...I'm finally back to spending some time at it, and having so much fun.

A few plans for the rest of the week...hang out with Sarah for 2 days, then work for 2 days, then Fourth of July weekend!!!

strange...

2009-06-27T20:56:00.004-04:00

Today, coming home from my sister-in-laws, my husband said to look at the huge rainbow in the sky. I'd never seen one like that before (remember, I live in NY). It was gorgeous!

Then, less than an hour later, I'm looking out my back window, and dusk has started to fall and a lightning bug is blinking back in the yard.

Just struck me as funny to see a rainbow and glowing lightning bugs all within the same hour.

my first post

2009-06-25T17:00:00.000-04:00

I've been debating this blogging thing for a while, but since I started following a few blogs of my favorite designers and artists, I've been hooked. I loved following their creative travels, the encouragement they send out to their following to create, and the comraderie online.

So I started considering writing a blog too...the idea of an outlet for my creativity is so appealing to me. I don't know that anyone's going to read this thing, but I've realized that I really want to write it for myself - kind of a living record - so whether I get any hits doesn't matter too much to me. And, if anyone does read this (besides my mother), bonus!

So here I am, and I suppose I should introduce myself.

I'm a wife and a mom and an avid crafter. I work in the printing industry, doing production work, but it doesn't really nurture my creative side - I love almost anything craft related: sewing, quilting, watercolor, soapmaking, and especially scrapbooking... just about anything I can get my hands on. Although, I'm an awful sculptor, I don't know why, but clay and me, we don't get along...

Almost two years ago, I had the sweetest, most wonderful daughter, and everything changed. My priorities shifted big-time! I realized life's so short and if you love something, you should at least give yourself the opportunity to succeed at it, in whatever way you can.

I've always made artwork and then just squirreled it away, because I didn't think it was very good (despite some feedback to the contrary). So, I've decided to try something new. To document my life and art (...for the world to see, sounds a little crazy when you write it down), and get over my some of my fears by posting it here.

I hope you enjoy my journey as much as I will. Sebby