Which Way is the Right Way?

Source Image: Morguefile.com

I try very hard to be a conscientious blogger and there has been something weighing heavily on my mind for quite some time.  Exactly what is the etiquette for posting pictures on a blog post?  If I'm posting an image of a book or product - I always assume it is okay to go ahead because it is in fact promotional and I do my best not to bad mouth any product, human being, or otherwise (in print)- unless you're someone like Lord Voldemort who is fictional and seriously has it coming.  So when I saw that Kal Barteski had started an organization/blog called Link with Love, I started to wonder about the fun pictures I use from other blogs and link back to and whether I was actually giving proper credit and respecting my fellow members in the blogosphere.

Based on a very cool flow chart found here - I should actually be emailing and asking permission to use said picture from the original producer of the image or the blogger.  At first - I thought it was a little over the top.  I'm in no way trying to pretend like this information or artwork is my own and I do my best to give credit where credit is due.  However, I have mad respect for both Kal and Ali Edwards and understand their concerns.  Apparently - there were some people out there presenting and selling their work as their own without giving credit to either Kal or Ali.  This is unconscionable to me - but still it leaves a lingering question.  So - I sent out my first email today to a lovely blogger who rocks my world to find out if I could use her images and link back to her site.  This is a whole new world for me and I think a lot of things could be changing around here.  I'm a little frightened to take on such a big issue since it will have a huge impact on the way I post here - but I'm hopeful that I'll figure out something that works for me and makes me feel good about what I'm doing here.  If you have any opinions, suggestions, or advice I would love to hear it.  Wish me luck on this new adventure.  It will require me to schedule posts more in advance - so things might get a little sparse around here while I figure it out.  There might be more random musings and less linkage - but that's where I want to be right now and I hope that's okay.

On a more random note - I tried to figure out the whole who/whom grammar nonsense and realized I have no idea which one to use -  and frankly I think most of the population doesn't know either.  I rank under a dummy on this subject because this post did absolutely nothing for me.  I'm debating using who/whom all the time.  And then...I take a deep breath and remember this isn't a grammar quiz -  and I hope to God my blog posts aren't being judged on word usage and sentence structure -  and most importantly my life's moments are way to precious to sit around wondering if I'm using the right effing pronouns when it comes to who and whom.  Take that run on sentence - grammarphobes.  Case closed.  So - I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday.  I for one will be spending my last day in bed trying to get my throat to cooperate before attempting a training tomorrow.  Until then...

BTW: I do love grammarphobes.  They are most helpful.  It's just that...honestly,  after taking the time to figure out effect/affect - I just don't have the will or want to figure this thing out.  See previous post on laziness.  Happy Sunday to all!

Lazy Crafter

Source Image

It's been one of those wonderful lazy days where I've been able to read, relax, and recuperate from whatever this thing is that has knocked me off my rear end for 10 days and counting.  I'm enjoying the moments now that I have the third day of antibiotics in my system and my nose actually works the way God intended.  There is one thing I know for sure - that sometimes being sick is a signal telling you to slow down and that IS okay.  It's okay to slow down and be present in the moment and not think about the three days of upcoming trainings or your new job that you've been working hard to get prepared for starting in less than three weeks.  It's okay to ignore that for a few days and concentrate on you.  I need to remember that more.  I need to remember it so strep throat or tonsillitis is not the thing making me lay down and take the edge off.  I need so much.  I hope everyone has had a wonderful Saturday and is taking a little time for themselves.  I for one am being blown away by the ever-talented Malcolm Gladwell and loving every moment of it.  Until then...

CHA Madness Day #5

There's only one thing to report today - and that's CHA Goodness.  It's the final day of this series on my blog and we're going out with a bang or fizzle depending on who you are and your crafty taste.  We've got some wonderful stylings today from Crafters Workshop, Glitz Design, and My Mind's Eye.  So...Tonks (aka my diva kitty) may I get a drum roll please...

Crafters Workshop

Source Image (all four)

I'm so excited about Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's new stencils from Crafters Workshop.  I believe they might have the power to take this humble, scared, scrappy girl into the art journaling/mixed media stratosphere - no pressure here at all.  I love everything about most of her stencils.  I'm also loving the Attitude silhouette stencil from CW and the birds, and the chicken wire, and the paint splatters and....so much more.  So excited about this release.  As part of my full disclaimer policy this week - I should tell you I've never bought this product but have heard rave reviews from many artists in the blogging universe.  Happy painting!

Glitz Design

Some time ago - I found the antique/vintage blue and yellow color scheme on some website or other - I honestly can't remember where - and fell in love.  So you can imagine I did a rocking happy dance when I saw the next collection from Glitz Design.  Thank you so much GD for making one of my color story dreams come true.

My Mind's Eye

Last but not least, I'm bringing you My Mind's Eye which really rocked my world with one of their collections from the winter show.  Thankfully, they're at again - and this girl couldn't be any happier.  I've ranked them from fave to least fave - which does not at all mean I think the last is bad in any shape or form.  For a better look, please check out the link.  So cool.

So that's it for today.  I had lofty dreams of showing some of my recent interior decorating with my father's excellent help - but have a few more things to get together.  Look for that next week.  I think I've found a solid headboard on Craigslist for under $50 with just some gentle upgrades necessary to bring my bedroom into a whole new universe - not sure why the science theme is so hot right now on this blog of mine.  Maybe it's due to the new book I'm reading?  Yes, you heard it here.  I'm on #9 - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and I'm giving myself a full week to finish it - who knew I could be so generous with myself!  Hope everyone has a terrifical Friday - two points to anyone who/whom gets the literary reference in those small seven words.  Ten points to anyone who/whom can explain the correct use of who and whom.  Until then...

BTW: If anyone is wondering - I've designated the ever so pleasant Tonks as the mascot for my blog.  She's a tuxedo cat with the strangest markings and frankly even stranger attitude.  She will not hesitate to tell anyone to suck it while showing her derriere and walking away gracefully.  Don't take it personally - she does it to everyone including yours truly - the FRIGGIN MOUTH THAT FEEDS HER. :)

Process of A Page - CHA Madness Day #4

As part of my weekly assignment for The Mother LOAD - I was given the task to document the process of a page and take lots of notes.  I decided to do it on Evernote with voice recordings which seemed like a great idea at the time for these arthritic hands of mine - but it turned out not to be too practical.  So - I'm sharing the little pieces of information from that assignment.  Please bear with me - the pictures are from my iPhone 4 and to be quite frank - they absolutely suck.  I'm still trying to get a handle on taking the beautiful pictures I've seen other people take with their iPhones.  What the frick is wrong with me?  Hopefully you'll get the gist.  This is definitely a picture heavy post - just to be warned.

1.  I start with the story.  For this layout, I chose to document a particularly difficult time in my life.  I had this photo of myself at the age of maybe three or four and had printed it on patterned paper.  I've had it for over a year and finally had a place to put it.  Happiness was mine.

2.  I pick the products.  These papers are from Simple Stories, Authentique & October Afternoon.  Part of the fun of Karen Grunberg's Finding Your Way class was learning about my scrapbooking style and the products I really love.  I absolutely love grids for my background paper and have started buying it in mass - which just means 5 or 6 pieces at a time.  I also went through my scrap container to see if anything would work with the papers.  The October Afternoon paper is from my stash.  Points for me for using my stash on a layout.

3.  I cut the papers and get started on putting everything together.  I'm definitely a one photo layout kind of girl.  I'm also a one-page layout kind of girl.  Give me two pages and I'm in the weeds.   I'm also an everyday moments/journal kind of scrapbooker.  If you give me events to scrap - I'm likely to pee my pants or throw up in my mouth a little bit. 

4.  Next, I start playing with the elements.  I don't glue things down until I'm sure I like the layout.  Please note: I have no idea how the red cardstock ended up on the layout - but I love it.  I'm really into using my EK Success Circles Large Edger Punch now - and I punched the red gingham paper from Simple Stories.  Then I played around with the layout.

5.  I start playing with the photo placement and embellishments.  I favor the left hand corner for landscape photo placement.  I also knew I wouldn't have any visible journaling beside the date.  The story was far too personal to have so visible.  At this point I've added die-cut embellishments from Crate Paper and stickers from October Afternoon.  The decorative brad is from Basic Grey - love myself some decorative brads.  Please note - the photo is not glued in place - it is anchored by the brad for the hidden journaling.

6.  Next - I go through my letters and try to find the right color and enough of the correct letters to make a title.  I chose a line from a song by Adele titled "Chasing Pavements" for this layout so I needed a lot of letters - not an easy task.  Thank God for colorful patterned papers.  I ended up using letters from Basic Grey and Webster's Pages.

7.  Finally, I wrote my journaling and did my final embellishing.  I added some wooden butterflies from Studio Calico, a chipboard dress and flower/asterisk from an American Crafts Dear Lizzy line and an eight ball die cut from Crate Paper.  I also added two stickers from October Afternoon - one was for the date.  

This is the best picture I got I'm very sad to say.  Oh - and one more thing.  I added chipboard buttons to the three of the holes made in the gingham paper.  It's definitely one of my more busy layouts but I love the finished product - so much.

So there you go - wordier than I thought it would be - but one example of my page process.  Now on to the CHA Goodness.  First up is Maya Road.

Maya Road

They are definitely pulling out all the stops with some good basic all-around scrapbooking embellishments.  I love the buttons.  I believe with the right buttons I could change the world - love them so much.  I also like the calendars as a fun way to add a date to a layout or birthday card.  I'm in love with rulers - no idea where this sudden love comes from and the film strip coaster album is so great it almost makes me cry.  Thank you Maya Road.  My right brain thanks you - my wallet curses you.

Prima

I have always loved Prima flowers.  My favorite were their Painterly Petals which I haven't seen around in a while.  I'm loving there new product line - Alla Prima.  Loving the colors.  Teal and yellow together is almost too much for me right now.  Loving almost everything about it.  Is anyone else around here tired of the love fest?  Did anyone else notice the letters?

Studio Calico

Last but not least I bring you Studio Calico - which really hits it out of the ball park for me.  I can't believe I'm being reduced to baseball metaphors when baseball has got be one of the most boring things in the world to watch and play in my humble opinion - clearly millions of people disagree.  However - I digress.  First - let's start with their masks and mini albums.  So wonderful...

Now on to their newest line - Memoir.  If you're a fan of SC, please let Archivers know they need to start stocking their products!  I was told this at CKC in April from one of the lovely employees of the company.

Last but not least is SC's Classic Line.  If you love kraft paper and classic patterns - you're gone love this.  Here are a few of my favorites...

Loving so much about these manufacturers' products today and all the lovely goodness they are bringing to my crafting world.  For those of you who wonder - I don't get a chance to buy half of this stuff - but a girl can dream.  So - that's it for Thursday.  The cold is getting better - however, my throat looks like it should be designated as a crime zone of some sort.  Heading off to get antibiotics from my favorite pharmacist in the whole wide world.  Then I'm moving on to book #9 in my reading pledge.  Double arm pump for me!  I hope everyone has a lovely day.  Until then...

BTW: I do my absolute best to link back to each page where I find pictures, information, etc.  If there are any mistakes, please let me know so I can make immediate changes.  I'm so thankful for all the information on the Internet and don't want to steal anyone's lovely work.

Down Goes Frazier, Down Goes Frazier & CHA Madness Day #3

So that summer cold that I've been hinting about has officially knocked me on my ass.  I got a flashlight to look at the back of my throat in the bathroom mirror and almost fell over - little petri dishes and their wild amounts of viruses just cannot be escaped.  There's a lesson there somewhere.  So - even though I had very high hopes of having my weekly assignment from The Mother Load to present to you - I barely have the energy to post.  So there it is - Down Goes Frazier, Down Goes Frazier.  BTW: I'm not a fan of boxing.  I actually got that phrase from the movie ATL which my father was kind enough to tell me about it's true origins in a pretty famous boxing match.  Who knew?

So on to the CHA Goodness.  Today we will be starting with Fancy Pants Designs which is rocking my world with their new line Off to School.  If you want to see the cool things one scrapper has done with this line - check out this blog post at www.scrapbook.com.  I'm in love with a lot of the paper and have no intentions to use it for any school pages - but the pictures weren't the best quality - so definitely check out their site for some better images.  In love with the bright colors and vintage feel.  I love that vintage is finally going live with color.  Love it so much.

Off to School

Next, let's head on to Jillibean Soup which is rocking my world with two of their new collections - Homemade 6 Bean Soup & Sweet and Sour Soup.  Oh yes, and don't forget about the lovely Extras.  Loving the color and the patterns.  Loving the letters that make long titles possible for my scrappy layouts.  Loving so much of Jillibean.  I wanted so much to have some rockin' pics to present - however I just wasn't able to make that happen. I'm blaming my summer mind and a very foggy head.  I beg of you to click on the links to see all the scrappy goodness that is Jillibean Soup.

Finally, we'll be ending our trip at Lily Bee Designs.  They are really meeting one of my most basic needs with their new line - Memorandum.  There is enough graph paper to make me happy for a very long time - not to mention the pretty patterns on the other side.  BTW: I have found I love linear graph papers as foundations for my layouts.  I feel a very big financial commitment coming on...

Memorandum: Source

So that's it for today.  One sick girl and a lot of papery, crafty goodness.  Hope it gets you excited about your future crafty aspirations.  On another note - Paperclipping is having an AWESOME discount on their membership right the heck now so scoot over there in the next two minutes to get $40 off the 6 month membership price and Noell's special design class for free.  The discount is only good through the 28th (tomorrow) and there's a 7 day money back guarantee.  I should say I have no affiliation with their company I just love their podcast to pieces and want to support in any way I can - finally.  And - I think Izzy is hysterical.  I hope everyone has a lovely Wednesday and stays well - trust me you don't want the crap I have.  Until then...