Second up...SOFTBALL!

So here is the second of the series...

SOFTBALL...

once again I used the Close to My Heart Wings paper...

along with the softball paper I found at Aw Shucks Scrapbooking in Myrtle Beach

I used the Backstage layout from the CTMH Magic Book for the layout template

Once again used the Flip Flaps to add photos and save space!

added my own ball from the softball stamp set

from CTMH and now that I look at the page with the flip flaps open...

I don't like the placement of the stamped ball with the printed ball...hmmm...

may have to rethink that!

oh well.

A lot to do today---housework-ugh.

errands.

a retirement card to be made and delivered.

I am tired just thinking about it.

And this is what I would rather be doing

if I had my sleep number bed and it didn't make me hurt worse to be in bed....sigh.

Whatever you do today, take time out to do something fun.

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping.

Blessings,

First Post of Three Pages!

Today is really my "Friday" and I am so thankful!

The non-stop week of much needed rain

has played havoc on my fibromyalgia

and I am in some significant pain today

(and we won't talk about the gall bladder...)

sigh.  Sick and tired

of being sick and tired...

But, as Mrs. "A" (short for Mrs. Andy Andrews)

the lovely lady who ran my college bookstore would say

"you gotta rise above it"

so

I am trying to give it the old college try

(pain meds will help, for sure!)

Here's one page of three coordinating pages I worked on last Sunday...

I used Close to My Heart's WINGS paper

that I love-that will no longer be available

after July 31st...

so if you see it, like it, want it-

let me know as I will place my final July order tomorrow...

I whipped out my iTop to do the brads at the top of the page-

a tool I've had over a year...and haven't really used

I like it, tho!

I used Close to My Heart Notice the Details for the binder clip

and a Stampology set called For the Record 3 for the little journal block

I used Google and the web to snag the Girl Scout logo I used for the "O" in the title

as well as to remind me of the GS Promise and Law

I was one---many, many moons ago!

and I think it's a good thing to try and live by-

wanted her to remember it, too so scrapped it for posterity!

Tomorrow...

I will post the softball themed page I made that matches this...

I used a layout from CTMH MAGIC book and really liked

how it turned out-

incorporated the flip flaps again to add more photos to my page

Her book is now TWO books---and are almost full

and there's more that needs to be added-

so instead of 2-page layouts

I am *trying* to narrow events down to

single pages.

The flip flaps are an awesome way to do that

as well as being a little more selective on photos

you don't have to scrap them all--

pick the best of the bunch and stick with that!

Gotta go get ready for work...

that sleepnumber bed I despretly need won't show up on it's own

would be nice, tho...!

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

blessings,

A day late...

So sorry-yesterday I promised a post on a page I made

at the crop on Sunday but time got away from me...

so here it is--just a wee bit late...

The paper is by Webster Pages and I really like them--you'll see more of these papers  ; )

I purchased a transparency overlay with the Read to Me poem on it--

so this page went together in no time.
I simply laid it flush with the right-hand side of the page

and put the adhesive underneath the photo block

I also added the Close to My Heart 4x6 Flip Flaps...

it's a pocket that has an adhesive strip to it.

Fold the strip back to attach it to your page-with one flip flap

I added two photo slots---

three if you count the space underneath!

They aren't expensive and come in a variety of sizes-

if you want more info--just leave me a comment

or e-mail me at sentbysharon@aol.com...

You're wondering how it fits into a page protector I bet...

well, you can do one of two things--

either attach the flip flap to the page protector itself

or

place the page in the page protector,

then I use my stylus to trace around the outside edge of the photo flap.

Next I insert a small cutting board and use my fingertip knife

to cut out the area I traced.

Remove the cutting mat, insert the page

and slip your flip flap outside the protector.

It's not hard at all!

Well the boys are telling me its time to eat

so I'd better go as they can be quite vocal.

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping.

Don't fall for it!!!

It's an enticing e-mail that showed up in my "inbox"--and possibly yours as well...

the tag line says "Buy gas & groceries and get free scrapbooking goodies?!" 

 It's a "SCRAPBOOK REWARDS" Visa card---

and it's a bunch of BUNK as my grandmother would say!

DON'T FALL FOR IT!!!

It will suck you in--who doesn't want free scrapbook stuff--

and oh, the oh so pretty designs you can choose from

for your own "scrapbookish" looking card...

What it WON'T TELL YOU

(so they can sucker you in...)

BUT I WILL

(because you're my friend, after all!)

is that there's VERY LITTLE of your purchases

that will "qualify" as points towards your

"Free Rewards"!

I forget now what specifically they need to be--

but it is extremely limited---

not all your purchases as they would lead you to believe!

And the interest rates as ASTRONOMICAL!

Then, heaven forbid, life gets tough and you miss a payment-

your REAL nightmares will start then!

These people called

no less than 4-6 times a day. Every day.

Starting almost before dawn.

I am not kidding. NOT.

It took a large number of Sharon fits

(I am a natural red-head of German descent...)

until I finally SHUT THEM UP.

Please don't fall for it. Not worth it.

So not.

This still makes my blood boil-can ya tell?!

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

 

At the Crop...

is where Theresa and I were yesterday!

The lone "true" scrapbook store we have left

in Myrtle Beach

about an 1 1/2 hr. drive

give or take!

I prepped 4 "kits" to do while we were there

and ran out!

So I bought another layout kit

and finished it

with time to spare!
Let me tell ya---

preparing "kits" to take with you to a crop

REALLY maximizes what you are able to accomplish!

How'd I do it?

I first selected the photos I wanted to crop--

this was easy as I have organized the photos into groups

in ziplock bags

with an index card noting the details...

Once I pulled out the baggies of the pics I wanted to work with

I went to the paper and embellishment stash I have

just for this project

(my goddaughters scrapbook--she's going to be 12...

i am behind...but jumping in anyway!)

and put those with the pics.

Then I did whatever stamping, cutting, etc. had to be done

along with taking a photo of the layout so I would remember what I planned to do in the first place---!---

and put all that in the 13x13 ziplock bags CTMH has

(I LOVE THESE BAGS--just for this reasoN!)

Then yesterday

all I did was pull out a bag, assemble my layout,

put it in a page protector and presto!

I was done!

I went to the crop with one book--

and came home with two!

Ok--

I confess...

I didn't get THAT much done--

(about 3 layouts and a few single pages as well...not too shabby!!!)

we got to the crop early-she hadn't opened yet

so we hit Michaels

and with my 40% off coupon

I got another scrapbook

as the first one was overflowing

(ah-hmmm...Theresa blames my addiction to pop dots!)

and so I  broke out the pages into the two books...

(and that will even change as I finish scrapping the photos I have!)

I am getting close---so close---

to being caught up!

I can't wait!

I think maybe I will take her and her mom out for tea at our tea room

and surprise her with the books.

For now, she (they) get to just look---

when I die-they become hers!

I promise photos tomorrow

of some of my handiwork!

For today, I hope the "tips" on how to prepare for a crop helped.

It also cut down on the tons of STUFF I had to SCHLEP to the crop! ; )

Now--it's off to work-

at least my boss is on vacation!!!

Until next time, happy stamping and scrapping!

 

Ain't gonna happen no 'mo!!!

I was wide awake this morning at 4:30 AM

(had a dentist appt. yesterday--and while the meds didn't really kick in

while I was in the chair they did after I walked out...

and I slept from 4 PM...until 1:30 AM...

and was up and down until I gave up

at 4:30 AM

and made coffee.

Then I discovered

that there were more GROUNDS in my cup than liquid coffee.

UGH!

Out came the strainer, coffee filter...and that's how I finished my pot.

Then the lightbulb went off...

In my "stash" (aka craft room)

there are TEA BAGS--

light-weight sealed on three sides tea bags

that I use(d) for my herbal bath blends...

So this is what I did this morning...

I started with this

(disclaimer: I have NO CLUE how this brand of coffee tastes--my not a coffee drinking husband bought it...that's all I'm sayin about that!)...

and did this (I know how much I brew each morning

and filled the bags accordingly...)

hit the open edge with one swipe with the iron

(didn't even swipe really-just set it down there and it did it's thing

all in one shot!)

and put them in my canister that used to hold loose coffee!

It now holds a 7-day supply of

COFFEE BAGS!!!

The extras went into a ziplock and into storage.

It literally took me less than 15 minutes to do a months supply!

No more "slipped" filters-no more coffee grounds in my cup

no more messy filters to fall apart all over everything

when they are wet and icky and I am trying to empty them!

I got the "tea bags" from a seller on e-bay-

they were CHEAP----for a ton of them.

Yea, I know-one coffee company makes the same thing.

I don't like their brand-and they are pricey just for convenience sake.

It was a PAPER PROJECT so why not?!

I was absolutely amazed with myself that I was able to sit through the cleaning yesterday

with little meds in me

I am TERRIFIED of the dentist!

Thanks, Dawn (Edwards-Dr. Jennifer LaQuay---they are AWESOME if you are a total chicken like me!), for a great job!

She knew what had happened and was just super checking in with me, telling me what she was going to do,

giving me breaks.

They even drilled and polished on a crown that was bothering me

(if you're local-stay clear of Dr. Jennifer WILLIAMS-I speak from (awful) experience!)

and have hopefully fixed the problem!

All that said-if you are afraid of dentists---find one that LISTENS.

I could have saved us thousands of dollars---had I found

the one I did that said, "we can give you happy pills (my name for them!)--

you will be awake, you will be aware---

BUT YOU WON'T FEEL A THING

and YOU WON'T CARE!

Yep-I can talk, I can get through it---

I don't panic like I used to for days ahead of time knowing there's an appt. coming up!

So-take care of those choppers!