Vacation

Good morning!  I'm writing today for one reason and one reason only.  I'm going to take a blog vacation until next Monday - August 2nd.  During my vacation - I'm going to concentrate on this blog and the direction I would like to take it in the next year.  I really love blogging - so much that I'm feeling withdrawals already!  I think it's important to take time and focus and so I'm going to do just that.  I hope everyone has a great week/weekend.  Until then...

Product Love

Good afternoon!  I'm back today banging the keys as promised.  I've been thrown back in the work groove for a total of four days, so this seems like a good time to iron out the kinks/set up a process for when work starts out full force in three short weeks.  It seems strange to me - but summer vacation felt like it was going at a great pace until now.  How can it be three weeks?  I digress just a little...

Today is about product love and I have two NEW products to share from Ranger.  Technically they would be categorized as CHA finds, but it's okay to change it since my feet are no longer planted firmly on Vermont soil.  So without further ado...

I just love these Claudine Hellmuth Studio Creative Layers Stamps.  The basic concept is to combine the foam and clear stamps to make an image.  The stamps come in 6 coordinating sets (foam and cling stamps).  The six sets are bloom, decor, domestic, doodles, dwelling and nature.  They will be available in early September.  I cannot wait!  This post on the Ranger blog has more information and samples of the stamp sets.  There is more information on the sets on Claudine's website here and here.  If you're interested, it's definitely worth checking out.  I absolutely love the look of the lamp.

Since buying my mini-pack of Glimmer Mists from my nearest chain scrapbooking store - I really fell in love with the possibilities.  In fact, it gave me hope in silhouette stamps.  I usually avoid them like the plague.  Tim Holtz often talks about making your own perfect mist sprays and I'm just too lazy for that - plus I don't have a lot of reinkers - so these are just perfect for me!  Learn more about the color offerings on Ranger's blog here.  There's also more information on the press release.

I hope these products have got you as excited as I am.  I can feel my wallet already taking a major hit.  Anyhoo - I don't have anything else to report.  I'm back at home and not so crazy about it.  But it's always this way when I leave my sister.  Things will be better.  On the agenda tomorrow - work and a craft date with the two divas.  I hope everyone has a great Monday!  Until then...

Here, There, Everywhere: Round-Up

Today is the last full day of my adventure.  I have to admit I'm a little down about leaving this amazing place.  It feels like home to me.  I've never felt at home so quickly in a new place.  I just love it.  So - I'm a little sad to be doing my last adventure post - but all great things come to an end.  Here are a few fun finds and details about my last few days.

Fun Finds
*I love this post on scraplifting from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  I love the idea of being a part of a scraplifting chain.  I'm going to make it my mission to figure out a way to do it.

*I'm very interested in getting this video on collaging from Julie.  It looks amazing.

*I love this layout from Piradee Talvanna.  I wish I could scrap more like her.

*I love this pinhole camera from the Engrained Etsy shop.  I'm absolutely amazed that they are functional.  Wish I knew how that worked.

*I'm in love with this Ikea lamp altered with Hambly overlays.  Love it!

Reading Corner
I've been on a bit of a reading binge over the last 48 hours.  I thought I'd share a little bit of what I'll be taking/sending home with me.

The first two books are fiction - adding them to the summer pile.  I wonder if there's any chance I'll get through both?  The last two books are for my current fascinations - baking cupcakes and writing.  I hope they're all wonderful!

So - that's it for now.  Not much more to report around here.  I have a box to mail home - I always buy too much when I'm away.  I need to take a quick trip to a craft store then back home.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thursday.  Until then...

BTW: I'm going to take a short vacation from blogging but I will be going at full force on Monday.  Have a great weekend!

Here, There, Everywhere - Part Deux

Good morning!  Once again I have a few fun things to share with you today.  This is going to be a link/picture/word heavy post.  I hope everyone enjoys! :)

Not Sure What to Do Here!
I'm back with three stamps to share from my personal stash that have me completely stumped.  I'm not sure where the disconnect is happening in my right brain - I wish I could fix it.  Let's start with one more Memory Box stamp.

Inspire Butterfly Collage - Memory Box

I think this stamp is absolutely beautiful.  I made one bookmark with it for a friend from work - but that's where it all ended.  I've tried multiple things - coloring, painting, twinkling H2Os, and distress inks - but to no avail.  So - once again I started searching!  Before I start posting links - I just want to give a plug to the Memory Box website.  They have amazing examples and tutorials to help people like me out. So without further ado...

*Spring Greens Card - Memory Box (with instructions)

*Inspired by a Butterfly Card - Memory Box (with instructions)

*Enchanted Butterfly Collage - Dave Brethauer (tutorial)

*Sponge Inspired Butterfly - Create x 3 (instructions)

Meredith the Teacup Girl - Stamping Bella

Scarlet the Teacup Girl - Stamping Bella

I love these stamps so much.  They're whimsical, fun, and cute.  My favorite thing is that the sweet girls in the images lend themselves to different skin colors - which is pretty much perfection in my book.  So - why in the eff can't I color either one of them to my satisfaction?  I've had this stamp since April and have pitched every attempt at coloring each image - maybe they're too cute.  Who the heck knows - but if you haven't noticed, it's really pissing me off.  So the search began - and I gotta be honest, I'm a little more frustrated by how cool people can make them look.

*Meredith the Teacup Girl - Paper Expressions Blog - I absolutely love the black embossed hair!

*Meredith the Teacup Girl - Jackie Pedro

*Meredith the Teacup Girl - Jodi Collins - I love the clear embossing

*Scarlet the Teacup Girl - Kay's Crafty Corner

*Scarlet the Teacup Girl - Jackie Pedro

*Scarlet the Teacup Girl - Karen Motz

*Scarlet the Teacup Girl - Jodi Collins

Lots of inspiration.  Lots of cool coloring.  Hope I have a little inspiration to color one of the girls up nice today. We'll see!  If you hear the loudest swearing ever - don't worry - it's just me.  :)

Product Love

To be honest, I hadn't planned on doing another product love today.  I thought I had unloaded enough product yumminess yesterday - but not so much.  Only one thing to share today from one of my favorite stamping companies.  

Lizzy Lollipop - Stamping Bella

Meet Lizzy Lollipop from Stamping Bella.  I absolutely love all things bee.  I love bees so much that I've planned to someday get a tattoo of a cupcake with a flower top with a bumblebee buzzing around it.  Love bumblebees - all of them down to the transformer.  But I digress...I have a little confession to make.  I never noticed this stamp on the Stamping Bella site until I saw this card.  I just love what Jeanie Witmer did with this image.  I also loved this card by Paula Tracy.  Just love this image - it must be mine!

Fun Finds & Inspiration

*Check out these new fringe scissors from Fiskars.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around using them.

*I love this Art Grid Calendar from Paper Source.  This is a great product for it's utilitarian function and for making art prints later.  I LOVE the trees.

*I love the design of this kitchen by Sarah Richardson from Sarah's House on HGTV.  I love her style so much.  For more Sarah Richardson love - check out this Elements of Style post.

*I love the colors in this Double Torsade Necklace from Anthropologie.

*I love these invitations from Minted on the Green Wedding Shoes blog.

*Check out this tutorial from Operation Write Home's blog on Paper Punch People.  So cute.

*Check out this sponging technique from Paula Tracy - so great!

*Check out this great canvas art from Lucy Edson - love it!

*I'm in love with Design Sponge's post on nurseries.  I love all things design and this post really hit the spot!

So believe it or not - that's almost it for now.  I still haven't done my daily search for CHA sneak peeks so there might be another post a little later.  Before I go - I wanted to leave you with a tip and a cool resource.  

Tip: When looking at fun blogs on paper crafting be sure to take a deeper look.  Jodi Collins's cards are definitely in the running for my favorite cards of all time.  I love everything about her blog.  I often look at it and want to flog myself for not being so creative.  Recently - I started trying to look at things a little differently.  While Jodi Collins is an amazing artist - there is something more to take from her posts then just envy.  I've started to look more closely at the structure of the card to take away a sketch or the layering of patterned papers.  This has given me even more ideas/sketch resources and has helped my shaken ego a little. :)

Cool Resource: Check out Beate (pronounced mia-ta like the car) Johns blog.  She has great video tutorials on her blog.  

Here, There, Everywhere - Part 1

I'm feeling a theme coming on.  This week is going to be a little crazy due to my adventure coming to an end.  Why is this important?  Well... it's because I will be leaving this lovely laptop and all the crafty goodness I've found over the last 12 days and counting.  I can't believe 12 days have gone by.  Anyhoo - this will be the week of  "Here, There, Everywhere."  I'll be all over the place - but in a good way I hope.  Basically it's time to start circling the wagons and unload all the good things I want to share.  So without further ado...I bring you a little...

Product Love

Beach Fun from Impression Obsession

Cuppie in the Kitchen from Taylored Expressions

Follow your Dreams from Stamping Bella

Little Moments Quote from Stamping Bella

All Booked Up from Papertrey Ink

New Tips & Tricks Special Issue from Creating Keepsakes

Cupcakes Embroidery Pattern Packet from bigBgsd 
I love the idea of using stitching on cards.

CHA goodness

Krafty goodness from Maya Road - Love the shadow box and tickets!

New Dimensional Shadow Boxes from Tim Holtz

What in the World?

What do I mean by that?  Well - when I search the internet, I find a lot of cool things that I would love to be able to duplicate but can't figure out.  In most cases - I would say WTF, but that's not a great title for a post - so I reworked it a little.  Here's just a few things online that have me scratching my head right now.

*Ziploc Flower from Maren Benedict

*Art Journaling from Dina Wakely

*Pake from Cakespy.com

So - that's it for now.  I hope everyone is having a lovely Tuesday.  No big plans in my neck of the woods.  The rest of the week is pretty full though.  Until then...

Happy Birthday - You Know Who You Are!

Just because you're (30) (40) (50),
Don't despair, oh no
Overnight you won't discover
You've lost your get up and go.
Nor will you become all wrinkled,
Nor ache from head to toe.
So even though you're ripening
Don't regard it as a blow,
You won't suddenly look decrepid ....

...Cos that happened long ago!!

P.S. - I thought I'd be a little like Junior with my sentiment this year! :)

Sweet

Photo: Eric Levin/Elevin Studios

Good morning!  I'm finally going to get a chance to share some of my CHA finds.  It's a little different today because I'm completely off my game.  I pulled something close to an all-nighter - which I haven't done in the last ten years.  Truth be known - I've never been someone who was awake until the sun came up.  It's not really my thing so needless to say - I'm dragging today.  Before I move on to all things crafty - the beautiful cupcake pictured above is from a bakery named Sweet in Boston.  Got a chance to go there over the weekend and can't report how they taste quite yet - more on that tomorrow.  Doesn't it just look divine?

Okay!  I got off track a little there but now on to some CHA goodness.

1.  Rub-ons and Stamps from Studio Calico.  My favorites are the wood grain clocks and birds.

2. City Park from American Crafts.  I know. I know. I've already talked about this line - but I LOVE this stamp set.

3. Maya Road Stamps & Chipboard.  I absolutely love the bumblebee album.

4.  Seaside from October Afternoon.

5.  Indie Girl from Sassafras Lass.

That's it for now - I hope you liked some of the peeks I had for you today.  I'm going to go an try and drink my weight in coffee.  I hope everyone has a nice Monday.  Until then...

Hodgepodge

Source - morguefile.com

As promised - here are the fun finds I've located in the last two days.

*Video on highlighting images from Jennifer McGuire.

*Great post by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer on overworking layouts - I'm totally guilty of this pretty much ALL THE TIME.

*I love Tiffany Johnson's take on the new cityscape stamp from Hero Arts.

*Totally in love with Katie Watson's take on the new chipboard bumblebee mini album fro Maya Road.  I absolutely love all things bee related.

*Speaking of bees - I love Larissa Albernaz's scrapbook layout.

*Love the background on the second card from this post at The Classroom.  I love the layering and the dandelion frame background stamp from Hero Arts.

*Love this card on The Spotted Chick blog.  I want to attempt to color one my lollipops on kraft paper.  I might have just a little left!

*I love using the lined image for a card as seen on the second card on this post on Cards By Kerry.  I always color my images - love the beautiful simplicity of using the line drawing.

*I love the rose cupcakes on the Cupcakes Take the Cake blog - wondering how I can create that on paper.

*Love this video on Green Wedding Shoes documenting a really fun proposal.  Also makes me think that anyone who doesn't think graffiti is art is deluding themselves.  I wonder how they make those perfect circles.  Hmmmm.

*Love the interior and exterior design of this cupcake shoppe on the "Oh Joy!" blog.   Isn't that the cutest trailer ever!

*Can't wait to listen to this new podcast when I'm reunited with my iTunes.

*I think these cupcake plates are divine.  BTW - Did you notice the illustrations on this blog - exactly like the cuppie stamps at Taylored Expressions.

*The food and recipes on the Taste Spotting blog look so yummy.  I'm not sure who searches all over the internet for these recipes but I'm thankful for them!

I hope this has been an inspiring post on some of the things I think are fantastic right now.  Tomorrow I will be back with the CHA sneak peeks that are currently making me drool.  Hope everyone has a great afternoon/evening.  Until then...

P.S. Sorry the pics from my first post of the day weren't stellar.  I was using an unfamiliar camera.

Finally!

I have so much to share today.  I've got to make it fast because my sister is waiting to watch some quality television some people call "Entourage."  I LOVE Jeremy Piven - possibly because his language at times mirrors mine.  I digress...I finally have some cards to share with you and I'm so excited.  It all started with this image...

The stamp is from Impression Obsession and the paper is all Basic Grey - sorry no links today.  I absolutely love the image and coffee in general and the blues and grays are something I really enjoy.  In the end - it is a good masculine card.  So glad to have one of those.

And then I moved on to this image...

I really wish you could see this card in person.  The colors are so beautiful.  I can't say enough about the tiny vintage blue button in the lower right corner or the use of a light blue copic on kraft paper.  This is staying in my permanent stash.

Since I liked making the above two cards so much - I decided to play with different colors and make a variety of cards.  I hope to give them as a gift to someone.  I'm so happy to finally get to share something I've been working on - it's been too long.  If you're interested in seeing the whole collection - I've embeded a slide show.

I have more to share but my sister and the boys of summer are calling.  I'll try to share more later.  Lots of fun links and a few CHA sneak peeks.  I hope you have a wonderful Saturday.  Until then...

Need. Coffee. Right. Now. Please.

Source: MorgueFile.com

It's Friday and frankly - I'm exhausted.  I'm not getting good sleep on my adventure at all.  I spent most of the morning trying to tame my mane so I'm a little late getting to the computer - which is a real drain sucker.  I'm really married to my routine - I even have a layout about it. Getting out of that routine drains my enthusiasm - even for this little blog I love - but I will keep on pushing forward.  Warning - this blog post is going to be all over the place.  I hope you find something of interest here today.

Process
I'm really interested in watching creative people's process - both artists and crafters.  The beauty of blogging and connecting in this way is the ability to see each person's process and things that bring them joy/inspiration.  I'm never disappointed when I see a post on process.  Here are three of my favorites right now.

*Geninne's Art Blog (Posts from Friday, June 9 to Thursday, June 15, 2010) - This piece is so beautiful.  I really wish I was her sister Kiki - then this piece of art would be mine.

*Michelle Zindorf's Freedom in Creativity Blog - Really not sure how she does it.  Even with all the great picture and instructions.  I need help!

*Ali Edwards's "I love you today because..." mini album - I admire Ali's style a lot.  It's not anything like mine at all.

Fun Finds
*Stampington Company - Tempting Templates - templates to make fun projects like houses, purses, etc. with paper and fabric.

*Stampington & Company - The Studio - great reference for tutorials on art projects similar to what is represented in their publications.

*Stampington & Company - Video Library - video tutorials on multiple projects.

*Great tutorial by Kirstina Werner on creative use of ribbon on cards.  Love it.

Color Inspiration
I love bold colors and patterns.  I gravitate to greens, yellows, and blues, but am open to almost anything.  I love the bold colors used by these three artists.

*Sankari Wegman

*Michelle Clement

*Larissa Albernaz

That's it for now.  No big plans today.  I'm not feeling so great so I'll probably play it pretty close to the chest today.  I hope everyone has a good day.  Until then...

Off the Map

I've always tried to make a plan for this blog.  And to be honest - I do better when I have some structure to work with.  Now it's time to go off the map.  Why do you ask?  Mainly because I spend a good 2-3 hours each day checking my regular blogs and allowing myself to go where they take me.  This is a luxury I have during the summer.  And I have found a lot to be happy about.  Consequently, I will be blogging more than once a day for a while.  At least I think I will be blogging more than once a day.  Since I'm not on my own computer - another reason to get a laptop - I need to post what I find during my current adventure.  So without futher ado - I bring you Artsyville.

O Coffee Bean

Nice to Meet You

The artist's name is Aimee and she is absolutely fantastic.  I've always wanted to take a stab at mixing words with images in short story form.  I have it written down in one of my idea books.  In my wildest dreams - I don't believe I could have come up with something as beautiful as this.  Let me take you on a long trip of my favorites from this wonderful Etsy shop.

*Nice to Meet You, Identity, Unlearning, Bewitched by Books, Secret Door, & Do the Duty - these all speak to my life or my thought processes in a meaningful way.

*Teach What You Love and Mind Boggling Business - I want these in my office at school.

*Escaping on Paper and Creative Fire - both prints speak to my love of paper and pursuit to be creative.

Love everything about this artist.  Love her message.  Love her typography.  Love her art.  So much.

CHA Finds
*American Crafts - City Park - Love the felt embellishments so much.

*Cosmo Cricket - Togetherness - Love the curly letters and tiny type.

*Unity Stamps - Cosmo Cricket Lines - I love Togetherness Icons, Togetherness Families, Pixie-licious Fairies, & Pixie-licious Blooms

*Prima - The Paisley Road Collection - love the bright colors and patterns.

Scroll down for the first post of the day. :)

Need Some Help Here!

Have you ever bought a stamp or product that was so attractive in the store that you couldn't live without it?  When you got home - did you find it nearly impossible to wrap your brain around making it work on a real project?  Did it stay in the back of your stash as just a pretty piece of decoration rather than a functioning part of your creative life?

This happens to me more than I'd like to admit.  I'd like to share a few items that keep me stumped.  First up - Memory Box's stamp, Batik Birds.

I loved this stamp from the moment I saw it.  I was entranced by the sample card from the manufacturer.  I bought it in February and it has never been used on a card.  I saw something recently on a blog and realized I needed to rethink this image.  Julia Stainton from The Classroom has given two great examples for this stamp here and here.  I also found three great ideas on the Memory Box site here, here, and here.  Can you keep a secret?  I'm not overly thrilled with some of the examples.  Which leads me to believe, this stamp might not work for me.  However - I will keep plugging away.  I sincerely hope it will not be part of my upcoming purge.

On to the next example - another Memory Box lovely.

I love this image to itty bitty pieces.  I was once again floored by the sample card.  I've had a couple months and have never used it.  It's so lovely - and I just can't use it.  So I went on another hunt and found a really great card on a blog called Monkey Business.  Totally seems doable - I might take a crack at it this afternoon (this lovely made the trip).  I also found another amazing card here.  Don't ask me how to create that brayered effect.  I'm a total virgin when it comes to that effect - and like some virgins - I'm terrified to give it a try.  Last but not least - I found a cool sample on the Memory Box site.  I'm starting to feel good about this image - which is a great thing.

That's it for now.  Today: I have big plans to craft.  Did I tell you that I finally made a card using this stamp set?  It's another example of a rarely used set - but I just love it.  I think I had a breakthrough of sorts with this set last night.

I was really inspired by this card from a previous Etsy Inspired Challenge.  I also was ready to color on kraft paper.  I have seen a lot of cards lately that use kraft as a background for the stamped image and I think it's beautiful.  I decided to give it a try.  Love it so much.  BTW: I probably won't be able to post the card until my current adventure is over.  I brought my camera but not the cord.  I know - don't get me started.  So that's it for now.  I have some other stamps to talk about - but I'll save that for later.  I hope this Thursday finds you well.  Trying not to think about the expiration date on my adventure.  Wish me luck!  Until then...

Just a Little Sad

I saw this post by Andrea Joseph. The post is from Tuesday, July 13, 2010.   And I felt the wet behind my eyes.  I love that little paw touching the paper.  I love her description of trying to get a cat to do something they don't want to do.  It reminds me of my girl.  My crazy, diva, banshee cat.  I don't like leaving her behind.  I wish she could go everywhere with me.  I talked a little about being reunited with my crafty supplies - but I can't wait to be reunited with her.  It's a little bittersweet having so much fun and knowing she's alone.  She probably doesn't even know I'm gone.  But I know I'm not with her.  I miss my Tonks.

P.S. Scroll down for today's crafty post - Product Love. :)

Product Love

Welcome to Product Love - Taylored Expressions Style.  I have lurked on the Taylored Expressions site for some time - participating in sketch challenges and admiring all things cuppie.  I haven't yet taken the plunge into the land of purchasing but I think they've found my achilles heel.  Just look at the fabulousness of their new destination cuppies.

I fell in love with these stamps after seeing the images on Jodi Collins's,  Sankari's, and The Spotted Chick's blogs.  I love the amazing cards they were able to make with these beauties.  I was even more in love with the images after finding the traveling gallery on Taylored Expressions website.  The images are unmounted pink rubber on cling cushion foam.  Love that I found these stamps.  Can't wait to have them in my stash.

So on to other exciting things.  In several of the posts over the next few weeks, I plan to link to my favorite sneak peeks for the Summer CHA show.  I have three things to share today - I hope you enjoy.

*Restoration from Crate Paper

*Dear Lizzie Enchanted from American Crafts

*Pixie-licious from Cosmo Cricket

I can't wait until these products start hitting stores.  Guess it will be time to do a purge again - which is overdue in my humble opinion.  I hope everyone has a nice Wednesday.  It has made me so happy to share these products with you.  Until then...

Fun Finds

Good morning!  I'm feeling a little under the weather today but have some interesting things to share.  At least I hope they're interesting.  I wanted to take today as an opportunity to share some of the fun things circulating in my little piece of the crafty world.

*I'm a big sucker for any kind of craft video.  Check out Live with Prima for video classes with master scrapbookers/designers/mixed-media artists to learn all kinds of fun techniques.  Both Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and Donna Downey are regular instructors.

*Speaking of videos and Donna Downey - check out her Inspiration Wednesday videos here for some mixed-media goodness.

*I envy Jodi Collins's style so much.  Love the way she made a Twilight card that is fun, cute, and fabulous.  It's a very cool take on the movie.  And let's just face it - I love cupcakes and I LOVED Eclipse.

*I have a real affinity for cool buildings and this did not disappoint.  

*Are these not the cutest cookies you've ever seen?  I love shortbread and buttons.  It's a total no-brainer.

*I found these amazing, unconventional wedding invitations on Green Wedding Shoes.  I love them so much.  Not that I'm getting married anytime soon.  Just love the typography and the non-traditional take on an invitation.

*I love this card from the Spotted Chick.  Love the stamped image and the little black dress.  Not to mention the subject matter speaks to me pretty loudly.

*Totally in love with this sketch.  Looking forward to scrapbooking it when I'm reunited with my supplies.

*Love this printer's tray.  I want one so much.

*So inspired by this tutorial on Lolly Chops.  Her blog has great projects to try.  Can't seem to wrap my head around some of them - but I've revving up to give at least one a try.  

Today: Plans to walk to the nearest store and pick up some steaks for dinner.  My sister makes the best rib eyes.  I plan to craft just a little.  My mojo seems to have gotten lost somewhere in this town.  I'm sure it'll come back to me soon.  In the meantime - I've been coloring and have fallen in love with a new color scheme.  More on that later.  I also plan to do some reading.  Nice, lazy, summer day.  Can't beat it anywhere.  Hope everyone has a great Tuesday.  Until then...

BTW: Another great photo from morguefile.com.

One Singular Sensation!

Just finished this one book!

Moved on to this one book.

Fell in love with this one artist - Leigh Standley of Curly Girl Designs.

Saw this one movie and loved it!

Found this one Hero Arts stamp set.  I had never seen it with the birthday sentiment.  I had only seen it with the Valentine's day sentiment.

Found this one espresso stamp by Impression Obsession.

Need to learn the brush stroke technique for this one Penny Black stamp.

Looking forward to checking out this one book.

Loving this one town.

Loving this one day.  This one time.  This one life.  I hope everyone has a nice Monday.  Until then...

Style Redux

My personal crafty style is a question that lingers over my head constantly.  I'm constantly trying to find a word that describes my style.  This usually applies to my scrapbooking more than anything else.  After my last post on style, one of my dear friends looked online and labeled my scrapbook style as whimsical and playful.  When I took a look for myself, I found that I also fit into the contemporary and eclectic categories.  So needless to say - I'm a lot of things when it comes to scrapbooking.

So while checking my regular links, I found the greatest thing ever - a Paper Crafts publication solely focused on card style.  I had a pretty good idea of what I fit into - fun and cute - but when I took the quiz I was sort of all over the place.  

The quiz in the magazine has only five questions.  I had two answers in the clean and graphic category.  I had two in fun & cute and one in shabby & vintage.  When I take these quizzes, I find that I'm on the fringe.   I always come up as clean and graphic because of my love for patterns.  However, my pages and cards are NOT clean and graphic.  I think there might be a category missing.  In the end, I think I am fun and cute with a few graphic and shabby elements.  Which I think makes me eclectic - otherwise known as there is no concise explanation of your card style.  The great thing is - I'm okay with that.  I like being able to move among the styles.  I also love having a solid idea of what elements I'm drawn to.  So - I'm going to enjoy every part of this magazine and adopt the styles, products, and templates that I'm aching to try.  That's what's it all about really.  Finding what works for you and moving forward.  I love this hobby of mine.

Today: I will be going to my first New England scrapbooking store.  I also have plans to craft with one of my favorite people in the entire world - my sister.  Love the laughs that seem almost constant when we're together.  Love the way she knows me through and through.  Love everything about being close to family.  Thank God for summer vacations!  I hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday.  Until then...

The Butterfly Effect

Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect?  It is usually referenced in discussions on weather.  When I searched for the actual quote - there was a lot of different versions.  I wasn't able to get a definitive answer. The gist of the theory is that a butterfly can flap it's wings and cause a major change in weather  on the other side of the world (think tornado, hurricane, tsunami).  Recently when I was looking at a few blogs I started thinking about the butterfly effect.  Does it apply to the direction of my life?  I believe life can be changed by the smallest moments.  So it got me wondering - what would my life be like if....

*I could make art like Geninne.

*I could sketch like Andrea Joseph.

*I could think outside the box and create something beautiful out of something broken like this.  It's a huge talent.

*I had a mind to make artsy mini books like Ania.

*I had the eye for color and design of Pam Carriker.

*I had the the artistic scrapbooking style of Larissa Albernaz or Michele Clement.

*I could bake like this.

Would my life be different?  How have I changed the trajectory of my life by my current creative pursuits?  Am I creating a new life every time I craft or write a word on this blog?  It's a strange thing to wrap your head around.  I know one thing for sure - the idea of the smallest moments/movements creating change gives me hope.  It makes me believe my life can become more creative - that I'm capable of reaching for my dreams. I'm inspired by all the artists I wish I could be more like - but being me is okay too.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday.  I believe today might be the day I see this.  Can't flippin' wait!  Until then...

Fun Friday

Happy Friday!  I have flown the coop and am blogging on the road.  I still plan on keeping up with my posting in some form.  I hope I can post a few pictures of my craft projects since I brought a lot of my stuff with me.  I have to admit it's going to be hard being away from my computer with all the links and plans for future posts - sort of seems like a good justification to get a laptop.  Since I only use MAC computers - it might be a while.  I plan on using the blog as a travel journal of sorts - but I will be sure to add crafty goodness over the next two weeks.  So without further ado - I bring you product love.

Echo Park Paper is a new company.  This seems to be their second paper line.  The paper lines are designed by scrapbookers working in the industry.  Their site seems to be in development right now.  The line can be purchased here.  I don't have any experience ordering with this company - but I do get emails often.  I am really in love with this line and will be ordering it the first chance I get.  It's always wonderful to find brand new things.

On the crafting front - I don't have big plans for anything today.  I'm still getting settled.  I might take a crack at it a little later this afternoon.  I still need to work on the challenge from the Moxie Fab blog.  I'm kind of at a loss on that one at this point - but I'll get there.  I hope to get caught up on my crafty reads.  I've been buying a lot of magazines - Creating Keepsakes, Somerset Studio, Artful Blogging, Cloth Paper Scissors, etc.  They've just been sitting unread with all the crafting and novel reading I've been doing lately.  Looking forward to digging in.  No other plans in the world right now - except searching for CHA sneak peeks!  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  Until then...happy everything!