use that stash!

I have a lot of scrapbook supplies, I am not ashamed to admit it! I gave up feeling guilty about this a long time ago, because I only buy what I love. If I loved it in 2006, I still love it today, and that is what happened with this layout. I paired up some old Cherry Arte chipboard flowers with new Basic Grey papers for this beach layout. It was inspired totally by a recent Julie Bonner sketch.

Take my challenge at Scrapbook Daisies and use up that stash! It is still going on until Sept 30!!! You can check me out here:
http://www.scrapbookdaisies.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=5789

those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Summer is pretty much over but its not too late for my Aug 15th quote challenge at http://www.scrapbookdeals4u.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=5673

If you are done with summer and want to check out the weekly challnges at Cramfest 2010- you can "crack the books" with us at scrapbookdeals4u.com for more awesome scrapbook giveaways! See you there!

organization is a beautiful thing...

I cleaned out my scraproom. Finally. It wasn't like I threw away a lot of stuff from there. Mostly I changed how things were arranged- I worked really hard to make it a useable space. I just need to be able to get home from work, do what I need to do to keep the house going, then sit down in the scrapspace and have fun!

Take for instance...half used packages of Thickers. OK, those take up a lot of room. Sure, they can be altered, or combined with other Thickers for a funky look. But if they have been sitting around for three years then it was Bub-bye!

Quick kutz 2x2's. Gathering dust. I am way more in love with my sizzix steel rule dies that take up five times more space because they cut chipboard and felt! So Bub-bye little quickutz (my sister in law wants you)

Chipboard nightmares. Oh I cannot resist a pack of raw chipboard, especially the Basic Grey shapes and letters. I was using smaller sterlite bins and it just wasn't working out. So I bought one large bin that fit the same space as the two smaller and it was WAY better. I pulled the chipboard that I adore and set it right next to me. Yes! I want to USE product not wonder where I put it. Bub-bye to containers that are too small! You are worse than no container at all!

Weird ribbon. My ez-pull bag did not work because I overstuffed it (I guess)and there was a weird huge tangle in that bag that scared me.I wouldn't touch it. This summer I bought two cute wire dress forms (a small one from Target, a larger one from the Beverly's store in Bakersfield) and started hanging the best ribbons on those. The weird tangle I put in a drawer that I cleared out especially for that purpose. At least I don't have to look at that tangle on a daily basis. I haven't yet decided what to do with that tangle just yet. I have already started using the ribbons more often that are on the dressforms. So Bub-bye EZ pull bag!

Weird glitter bottle and Stickle storage. I had my MS glitter bottles in a basket that was way to small. I got rid of some 7gypsies punches that were taking up practically a whole drawer and moved glitter plus the glue and sealer in all together. yay! Stickles got one of the sterile bins that was too small for the chipboard. Bub-bye ugly too-small basket. You won't be missed!

Punch confusion. I put them in sterlite bins by brand. Because that's how I was trying to find them before, but they were spread everywhere. Then to my joy I realized that I had more Martha Stewart punch-around-the pages than I thought, so they got their own space. And there were some punches that were just not useful anymore. Bub-bye, punches that need a new owner!

I made this layout with paper I bought because I loved and then forgot about. I really am happy with it. I doubt I will stop buying what I love, but what I did learn was that I need to be more disciplined about cleaning and purging or else my scrap refuge will become a scrap nightmare!

Alter something!!!

Come on over to scrapbookdeals4u.com and check out my challenge! You can alter anything you like! I had a great time making this jewelry box with the Echo Park paper from the Sweet Summertime kit.

2 fishies!

Earlier this week our goldfish, Zippy, passed away. He lived a good life of 9 months. RIP, Zippy. In his place are two new fantail fish, presently known as Bob and Norma. They came to live with us from their previous home at Wal-mart on a very hot 105-plus degree day. They are presently thriving happily in their new home. I commemorated the event by creating this page from the Max & Whiskers kit at SD4u. I loved the way it came out.

Its all about the little things...

"Its the little moments that make life big."

I am so excited about my 15th of the month challenge at SD4u. I started off using quotes to inspire my page subjects about five years ago, then I stopped for awhile, now I am back into it again. I think using quotes gives a little something extra- helping to convey some emotions that other people can relate to. I've got this challenge rolling now and more fun quotes in my mind for the upcoming months so come and check my challenge and lots of others from the Design Team at SD4U!

I now create for...Scrapbook Deals 4 U!

I am so happy to announce that I have been chosen for DT. It is a happy, fun place and the kits are awesome! I can't wait to get going on my projects!

making friends with paper and scissors

There was an "incident" at VBS today... it was between my Lauren and another Lauren- something to do with cutting in line, nametag pulling, and lots of drama. These two Laurens have known each other for years- they go way back, but there has always been a little issue between them. My theory is because they are sharing the same name. So on the way home, we talked and came up with the idea of making a card. I didn't realize until the card was made that they were BFF's!

Work and play DO mix!!!

Allow me the honor to introduce the Sunnyside High School Doctors Academy Class of 2014! We had such a great time this past week. Every year at the very beginning of summer I have the opportunity to spend to spend two mornings teaching the incoming Freshman Doctors Academy students how to do blood pressure and vital signs. This year there were 51 students- the largest class I have ever taught! We had a great time...and I was super impressed by this very bright group of students- by the end, they were ready to roll- GO WILDCATS!

We did it!!!!

We are officially a Manchester Gator, saw where the 2nd grade classroom will be- what an awesome school and we are super excited to be in the Gator Family!

OK this is it!

I have finally come out of the closet and started a blog. I resisted for a long, long time... but now its time to get going with this whole thing.

Who am I?

I am a chronic collector, detail obsessed, not necessarily a perfectionist, but really always checking the tiny stuff. Its a good thing I am nearsighted.

Anyhow, this layout is a pretty good example of my detail-obsession issue, but who cares, just look at my girl out and about. I think my crazy busy layout is pretty much how she sees things- all big and colorful and layered on top of other things.