kellicrowe

A Thank You Mini-Scrapbook for Our Last Trip to See Our Mall Santa

Last year, I knew it was the end of the era of dragging my teenage boys to see our Santa at the mall. We are fortunate that we have lived in one place for the past 16 years and have gotten to visit with "our Santa" at our mall most Christmases.

The first thing I did was to dig through my huge container of unorganized photos, my drawer of unorganized photos and my file folder marked "Santa Photos" from back I thought I was gonna get organized about 7 years ago. The folder was empty.

I was actually able to locate almost every yearly photo within 20 minutes. Which is shocking considering the current state of my craft space. Paper from wrapping gifts shoved onto the floor. Tubs of photos. And my iPad....because I apparently now need Netflix in order to craft. #netflixisthenewDr.Pepper

I used a little book that Starbucks sold along with their gift cards a few years ago. It had cute trees on it so I just added a Santa sticker. It is a lot like those skinny Moleskin journals like this one.

I taped two pages together on the sides and bottom to create a little pocket so that I could slide journaling tags into them. 

I added a wallet sized photo and some stickers to indicate each year.

On each tag, I wrote a little note about the kids. For example, this photo is the last time David ever wore jeans. I had to make a deal with him to wear them for photos at Picture People and then he got to go and visit Santa. (Don't judge. It was 2002. Mall photos were still classy. Ish.)

I also included a few details, like what the kids liked at the time, asked for and even about their diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome and Dyslexia. I just wanted Santa to feel like he was a part of their lives. I know, it sounds cheesy as I relate that. But it was pretty easy for memories and milestones to come back to me as I looked at these Santa photos. 

I also included a note of the year there was a different guy at the mall and Max, at 6, got in the car as said dryly, "Well, that wasn't OUR Santa. I don't know who that guys was...."

I also included a memory of the time Santa looked me in the eye and said, "They are getting so tall. So much taller than last year. You are doing a great job raising them."

I got in the car and called my husband and said, "Santa Clause thinks I am doing a good job!" 

Then I tied it together with a little ribbon. 

I did, however, leave the last page blank and I took scissors and glue dots with me for the final photo.

We took sunglasses for the boys and Santa to wear on their last picture. Santa was all in. This is a bad photo of a photo because I "filed" my pictures in my flawed system of tossing all loose photos into a huge non archival-ly safe box. Also, that dang elf wouldn't let me just snap a photo of the boys and Santa with my phone. I was already buying the pictures in our selected package. But it seemed like a bad moment to go crazy mom on the 17 year old elf just doing her job....so I did not. #don'tbeTHATcrazymom 

And then the boys gave him the mini-album. He stood up and looked at every page with them...much to the consternation of the people who were still standing in line with squirmy 2 year olds. And then he realized their were notes in it about the kids. He teared up. He said he was looking forward to sharing it with his wife that night. Mrs. Clause!

This guy is a part of our lives and forever in frames of Christmas photos that I pull out and sprinkle around the house in December. I just wanted to say thank you in a way that felt meaningful. Our Santa showed extraordinary kindness. And also, he showed up. Every year. 

My kids talked about the importance of showing up and being kind on the way home. Thanks, Santa. You are doing a great job. 

Bad Interview Means a Good Class, Right? (RE: True Scrap 6 Classes Start Saturday!)

I 

Thankfully, I am not famous because I am kinda a disaster with interviews. 

Case in point: Here is my TrueScrap 6 interview with Lain. I knew I would be a mess, so I chose to look ridiculous as well. I am pretty sure I talked about Pride and Prejudice spin offs and Murder She Wrote more than scrapbooking. Woops.

I did one with Noell Hyman for Paper Clipping. I actually made notes for this one. I even wrote down how Stacy Julian and Stephanie Howell had effected my scrapbooking over the years. AND then they were guests, too! I had NO idea. Did I say my nice things? Nope. I did answer a question and in the process forgot the question. And then when I got a chance to recommend my favorite new scrapbooking item, I talked about something not scrapbookie. Even though I had written down gold mist and circled it 15 times in my notes. EVEN THOUGH. 

But what I do like to do is to teach classes. I went to school to be a teacher. I homeschool my kids. I love learning. And I really like teaching. And I hope I am a much better teacher than interviewee. (It would be hard to be worse....)

I think this is my 4th or 5th True Scrap event where I get to teach and it starts tomorrow!

Here is one of the things I really like about how True Scrap works: The class is 30-45 minutes long. It is pre-recorded and runs at the assigned hour. Lain Ehmann hosts/moderates all the classes. The teacher for each class logs on and participates with the students in a chat that runs during the class and just to the side of the video playing. This is cool because I can answer real time questions for the students and hear their feedback as things happen. Perfect for someone who missed a step to ask about it or to find out where I got my paper trimmer, etc. 

This immediate feedback is really great for the teacher, too. I totally get a chance to watch and realize, no one needs to see me cut out 10 circles. Skip that on the next video. 

Plus, the classroom chat during and after the classes gives me the feeling of community without having to pack up all my stuff and go to a retreat. (Those are great, but the packing up the stuff....ugh, I take EVERYTHING.)

The classes are 1 day and start tomorrow: Saturday October 18th. 

Usually, the classes as they happen are recorded and can be viewed later if you can't set aside a Saturday to watch all of the classes live. It is also handy in case you missed a tip or technique you want to re-see. 

Link to True Scrap 6 Here.

My class is called "Saw This, Made That." It is about turning my Pinterest obsession into a means of inspiration for my scrapbook pages. That photo is a promotional one to advertise my class. The veins were seriously popping out of my neck because that tray was so heavy. OH, if you think I am bad in interviews....I am the worst at promotional photos. Just ask yourself why I cropped my eyes out. (Hint - think Zombie eyes).

 

Win a spot in True Scrap 6

I'm giving away one spot in this one-of-a-kind event. Here's what you need to do:

1. Visit www.truescrap.com and watch the short video at the top of the page.

2. Return here and leave a comment below by midnight, October 9, about which class you're most excited about. (It does not have to be mine:)

3. Check back on 10/10 to see if you won!

And here's something for EVERYONE... Not sure you'll be lucky enough to win a spot? No worries... you can use coupon code “HERO” at checkout to save 20% off the regular registration rate. Just head over to www.truescrap.com and get yourself signed up! (Coupon expires 10/13).

About True Scrap: True Scrap blends the best of on-demand, web-based learning with the excitement and energy of a live, in-person event. True Scrap events have delighted thousands of ecstatic students over the past three years. Produced by Lain Ehmann with previous instructors ranging from Heidi Swapp to Shimelle Laine, True Scrap events are sure to inspire, entertain, and educate. Find out more at www.truescrap.com.

Rules and guidelines:

One entry per person, please. Contest closes to entries on Thursday, 10/9 at midnight Pacific. Winners will be chosen by random drawing on Friday, 10/10 and will be posted on Truescrap.com, and spots must be claimed by Sunday, October 12. If you have already purchased a spot and subsequently win a spot, you may transfer your prize to another person or receive a credit from your original purchase towards a future True Scrap event. No cash refunds will be given. 

True Scrap 3 - On Line Scrapbooking Classes this weekend!

 

I am super duper excited to be a part of this again!

I have to say, it is really well done.

I didn't think that I'd like the on line classes at first.  But I totally enjoyed experiencing the instruction with the others on line.  The chance to ask questions and get real time responses was super.

And then, I was also able to review all the classes at my leisure later.  (Which is great - because I am super slow...at scrapbooking.)

You can sign up here: http://www.truescrap.com/ts3/

Glitter and Geeketry

Monica Bradford, Creator of ScrapInspired and Take 12 Team Member for Ella Publishing

Artsy Effects for Hybrid Pages

Anna Aspnes, Digital Designer

Pack Your Bags Cricut Mini-Album

Cara Miller, Cricut Expert Instructor at My Creative Classroom

Mixed Media Home Accents

Erin Bassett, Superstar Designer and Scrapbook Diva

Jumpstart Your Art: What to do when you’re just not feeling it

Gretchen Schmidt, Scrapbook Instructor and Design Team Member for Karen Burniston

Beyond the Box: Creative ways to add journaling to your pages

Jennifer Gallacher, Two Peas Garden Girl and Echo Park Editor

When the Lights are Low: Low-Light Photography

Katrina Kennedy, Creator of CaptureYour365.com

Just Get It On the Page! Finally scrapbooking those photos and stories you’ve had lying around forever

Kelli Crowe, Scrapie Girl, Autumn Leaves Scrapbooking Contributor, Trekkie, and Mr. Darcy Admirer

Finish What You Start: Project planning and completion, step by step

Melissa Shanhun, Creator of DigitalScrapbookingHQ.com

Flower Frenzy

Nic Howard, Author of 'That's Life'

More Stamping on Scrapbook Layouts

Nichol Magouirk, CK Hall of Famer

Designing with Symbols and Imagery

Noell Hyman, Host of Paperclipping.com

The Perfect Collection: Using your favorite collection pack to the very last scrap

Shimelle Laine, Designer for Jenni Bowlin Studios, American Crafts and Two Peas in a Bucket

Scrapping Green: Sustainable crafting

Susan Weckesser, Artist and Teacher

Blending Secrets: Seamless Digital Blending

Tiffany Tillman, CK Hall of Famer and Digi Designer

…Plus special guest interview with Becky Higgins!

---

What you’ll get:

-Full admission to all 15 classes, live

-Five virtual make-and-take short project videos

-Audio interview with the amazing Becky Higgins

-Eternal access to class recordings to view at your convenience

-More fun than you can shake a stick at AND extra goodies!

…And if you register before April 19, you’ll get this

All for the low price of $147!

(that’s less than $9 per class!)

 

The Facebook Scrapbook

On Facebook, I mainly post about things our family is doing or funny things my kids say.  It is a bit of a diary of our everyday life.  I realized that a lot of these items are only documented on FB.

It got me to thinking - how long will it be there?  Could I go back the year and a half to when I started on Facebook?  Guess what - I was able to go back to April 2009 to my first post.  

I opened Facebook and a blank Word document.  (So two things open on my computer screen at the same time.)

Then I cut and pasted the first page of my Wall (my personal page) to the Word document.

I progressed backwards, page by page, until I got to my beginning date of April 2009.

It took about 3 hours to do.  I did it while watching TV.

A few times FB messed up and I had to start back on the most recent page of my Wall all over again.

And a few times it would show me the exact same page several times in a row.

Then I went back through almost 70 pages of the Word document and started deleting anything that wasn't a status update.   

Comments, "kelli is now friends with..." and links were all deleted.

I did leave a few comments from other people, like my mom and sister.

I added space here and there for putting in a movie stub, etc.

This took the document from 70 pages to about 36.

Then I unified the font and colors .

(My pages are only 6x12 because I am using the American Crafts 6x12 albums....which have been discontinued.  Don't get me started on this because I am one of those people who has to have her albums match.  I am either a trail blazer on things, like decorating my son's nursery years ago with a bug theme before you could find it anywhere for kids...or.....discovering something the moment before it is discontinued like the chair I want from Ikea.  There really is no middle ground with me.)

Anyway, this is one of the albums I am going to keep going.  I plan to put a reminder on my calendar every other month to capture the previous month's status updates.  If ever I start to think that I do not want to keep a record of my Status Updates, then I might need to reevaluate what I am saying:)

There are some things you can use on FB to have this done automatically for you by putting a certain amount of your status updates into a paragraph.  However, the two I have seen leave out the dates. 

(Spell check says that is how you spell reevaluate...but it looks so wrong:)

 

 

 

 

Scrapbooking: Flower Card

Hey Mom...here is the Valentine's Card I made for you.

But didn't mail.

Yet.

Card was inspired by Ann Taylor's  new add campaign.

I posted direction to how to make it at twopeasinabucket.com.

 

Scrapbooking: Shopping on line

It was my turn to post on the Garden Girl Blog over at Two Peas in a Bucket. com today.

I was supposed to show what was in my cart.

It was a lot.

A LOT.

I'm not buying it all or anything....

I put lots more in my cart than what I plan to purchase...

for scrapbooking, at Amazon for books and even when shopping for clothes.

I think it is fun to put everything you like in the cart and then edit, edit, edit.

Above is a small sampling of the HUGE amount of things in my cart.

The link to the blog post is here.

How do you shop on line?

Put a lot in the cart and edit?

Wait, is there another way to do it?

(I have probably 11 pages of items "saved for later" in my Amazon cart.)

Or do you have to see something in person to purchase it?

 

American Crafts cards

I was honored to have been asked by American Crafts to make a few cards featuring

their pens for their blog today!

Amercian Crafts is a great company. 

I have a cup full of their pens on my desk and a

verticle cropper hopper full of their paper. 

And flair.  A lot of flair:) Thanks AC for including me on  your blog!

Organizational reset.

It is like someone ripped the spine out of our house and it has folded over on itself.

(Our craft space is s huuuuuuge mess!)

We need a reset on organization.

Organization on the house, our schedule and meal planning.

I actually really like to organize.

The maintaining it

not

so

much.

And we are going to try to do next month gluten free.

It may or may not help David and the rest of us.

The dairy free had an amazing result for him.

So really, how can we not try it?

And we do school through the summer too.

Hmm, this to do list is getting kinda big.

What is on your summer todo list?

handprint

I had an idea.
I won't know if it worked until the spring.
It may be brilliant.
I'll settle for clever.

I cut a piece of acetate
into a 5x5 square....
maybe 6x6
whatever size page protector I had
and had Max put his left hand print on it
to document his hand size at the start of his school year.
In the spring,
I'll get him to put his right hand print on the other side
to see how much he has grown.
Or
maybe I'll cut another piece of acetate
and layer the handprints...
That might work too....

Here is the page in with his first day of
school lo and a little interview on a 6x12 page.

The first day of school page is actually fake.
A real page...but staged photos
becuase it was for a 2 Peas assignment
that I didn't get turned in on time.
Nice.
Ironic that an assignment about school
got turned in late.

kellicrowe

Can I get another week of July over here, please?

LO for Two Peas in a Bucket for Laura's weekly challenge:
scrapbook a series of photos
Why, yes.
That IS a scarf holding a foam rocket to his back.
Who knew fleece could stretch like that?

The Heart of the Matter on line homeschool conference link that disappeared yest:)

Max was playing the piano.
Me: Max, would you like to take piano lessons?
Max: (slightly offended) Um, I'm already really good at the piano.

I guess offering someone piano lessons
as they play a self composed song
is probably not the best

David: I think I look 11 now.
You know, with my longer hair.
Me: I think with letting your hair get longer....
you may need to wash it more often.
David: Oh. Hmm.

(I can tell he may prefer to look 10 after all)

I said I was starting out school year on Aug 1.
THAT IS
LIKE
TOTALLY
TOMORROW!
Did I take a nap and miss July?

Happy the last day of July!
kellicrowe

that Ali Edwards....

it makes me want to swannie.
(is that a southern thing to say, "I swannie!)

That Ali.
I do check her blog each morning to get some inspiration.
and you know what?
It is there.

So a a few months ago she had a butterfly punch
by Martha Stewart
and a cool framed project like this

So I HAD to get one.

I know....
If Ali Edwards said jump off a bridge
would I?
Well...if there was a pool of pretty patterned paper jump into...

AND
I cleaned up my craft room
which is the beauty of having an organized space
there is a place for everything...ish
Ok...it doesn't look clean
but there is crafting going on
planets being painted on the far end
and scrapbooking going on on this end
and...

It kinda looks like he is trying to climb out....

I have some give aways coming up in honor of my blogaversery
I have been rambling for 3 years.....dude.

kellicrowe

**update - here is the Ali's post and project. The punch and frame I used is by Martha Stewart. Pop dots cut in half to adhere the butterflies. Sara - this is for Maddison!

stamp give away

remember the these cute stamps I was dreaming of....

well,
as it turns out,
they were dreaming of me...

the lovely folks over at Scenic Route
sent me some to give away on the blog!!
how
cool
is
that?

but I need something from you to enter the random drawing..
i need you to
settle a little dispute
tell me what color my husband's ski pants are.
that is right.
name that color.

here are some pics:

taken by Alex of JD from the gondala

JD skiing down the mountain with Max.

walking away
hey...we want this to be fair
and from all angles

lastly, with Alex
i did pop the color on the whole photo in iphoto

so
post the color of the pants
as many times as you want if it is the right color
as many times as you want
before Wed at 9 pm EST  MARCH 26th
and you are in the random drawing to win one of 5 sets of these cute stamps!

and they all lived happily ever after....
in their __________ colored pants.

Have a wonderful Easter!
kellicrowe

PS. Hubby and I read down to 117 on the posts.  We were laughing so hard I was wiping away tears:)

overheard at our house

cuuuuute chipboard stuffs at CHA
by Fontwerks
I mean, can't you think of like 15 things to make with these?

me: hey, 40 people posted that they were glad that I didn't die on my home from the airport.
jd: hmm, that is really great.
(slightly not paying attention kinda voice)
me: of course, like 380 people posted that they wanted a free book....
jd: interesting

i totally chuckeled about this for a few days.

happy day!!
kellicrowe

the difference

Stamp: by Scenic Route
I have all the Autumn Leaves stamps
They are awesome
A stamp has to be pretty special to catch my eye
And this did
I need these:)

Ok, the difference between my husband and me
A few days ago I woke up to a thunderstorm and the power going out.
I jump up and run to unplug my computer with all the photos on it.
Power comes back on.
I turn on the tv and see it for 30 seconds
to see a storm front going right over us.
There were spirals all over the map for circular winds
like 15 of them over my town.
I run down to Abbie's room to tell her I am taking the kiddos into the basement.
Power goes out again.
I crawl
creep
and cling to the walls
blind
back to my room
to where we keep the emergency flashlight next to the bed.
It isn't there.
I notice there is light coming from the bathroom.
Dark outside.
Dark inside.
Starting to hail.
Light in the bathroom.
The husband is showering
during a storm
by flashlight light.
I'm all like
"What are you doing?"
Him
"Um, getting ready to go to work."

Me, the mother bear: gets her cubs in the basement.
Him, the pap bear: off to hunt and gather.

I need these stamps.
Happy Sunday!
kellicrowe

"looks pretty cool"

This lo has been on my family room floor for 2 days.
I stapled on the title...
and somehow missed how off center it was.
The whole lo just wasn't working for me
Too much going on and all...
Not much like what I imagined it to be
David walked by it this morning and said
"Hey that looks pretty cool."

:):):):)
Into the book it goes.

His standards aren't mine.
I gotta remind myself of that.
I had the memories and pictures on the page.
But it wasn't what was in my head.
But no one else knew what was in my head.
(As I am reminded by the family over and over again.)
I sometimes forget to just relax and enjoy making a page.

Anything in scrap booking you ever need to remind yourself about?

Happy Sunday!
kellicrowe

Tomorrow I will be giving away stuff.....

at
ScrapChic Boutique
in Decatur, GA
(Atlanta)
around 12:30 ish pm
They are celebrating their 1st birthday
and having a 12 hour crop from 10 - 10.
And i'll be there to break their concentration
mid day....with some stuff.

happy Friday!!
kellicrowe

ps...me in the snow a few weeks back.

Cocoa Daisy & kit club question

The nice folks over at Cocoa Daisy sent me one of their kits from this month to play with. It was designed by C.D. Muckosky.

Pirate Max.
Arrrg.

Ok...I wouldn't normally cut up a picture like this...
It printed out like this:)

and

The kit had the new Hambly clear acrilic sheet in it. I can't wait to use that when I get back from CHA.

So - are you part of a kit club?
I like how it got me to try a few new things (like scrapping on patterned paper).
And got new product in my hands (like the Hambly).
Oh...and how it came to my door:)

Happy Thurs!
kellicrowe

buttons

We had some friends over last night.
The kiddos made button trees.
These are really addictive!
Just sorting the buttons (all Autmn Leaves..of course)
was very soothing.

So the week before Christmas is here.
What have you got going on?

Happy Monday!
kellicrowe

don't even try say it is because you are the middle child....

My Alex.
November 2007.

Conversation between the two of us on our NY trip this year:

ME: Alex, just look at the camera.
You don't have to stop what you are doing.
Just look at the camera.
No, you are looking down at the last minute again.
See, see how you aren't looking at me in this shot?
(showing him the pic on the back of the camera)
Ok, one more time and then you can go back to playing.
Alllllllllllex! You looked down again!
Listen, I'm going to take lots of pictures on this trip.
There are going to be lots of your brothers.
And when you grow up and look back at your pictures
you are going to say I didn't take as many pictures of you
because you are the middle child.
And that isn't true.
It is because you are always looking down at the last minute.

ALEX: Ok, I won't look down.

ME: Ok, there. That one was great. Thanks.

Now Max is the one who looks down all the time.
And he really doesn't care about the quantity of photos we have of him.
Unless he is jumping off of something huge
then he is very invested in me getting the shot.
I'm going to need a new stratagy for that little guy.

Happy Friday!
kellicrowe

a basket of mini albums

Anyone else checking Ali's blog daily
to see how the Christmas album
and projects are going?

I totally do.

Anyway, a while back she showed us a long basket that she keeps her mini albums in on her sidebaord.
I thought...HEY, I have that same basket!
I dumped the mail and misc. items out of mine.
I put my basket on the dinning room table.
Then I loaded it up with my mini albums.
Loaded
it
up.

Ahem.
Apparently, I have not done as many mini albums as I thought I had.
I have 2 others
so that makes 4 total.

So.
How many mini albums have you done?

Happy Monday!
kellicrowe

so the getting up earlier thing...

I love finding pics in the camera that Abbie took:)

So I tried to get up earlier.
I needed more day in my day.
But what I found was that I just stood in the shower longer....
wondering things like...
have I washed my hair yet?
What about conditioner?
It doesn't feel tangled...
but the conditioner is on the shelf
I never put it away on the shelf
JD does that....
but not me
So....I wonder if I conditioned my hair yet?

The morning I lathered up my face with my shampoo I thought
perhaps...I need to just go to bed earlier.

Happy Friday!
kellicrowe

I wasn't planning on buying this book....

But then I saw it at Memory Trends.
I flipped through a few pages and almost cried.
Twice.

I really own a lot of books.
I am picky.
I am partial to the Autumn Leaves books.
I still look through Ali's first book and refer to it.
I am trying to cut back.
Have less.
I didn't need another book.

I got my copy of this a few days ago.
I read it cover to cover.
I stopped mid way and got a pen so I could underline.
I am a reader of many things....but not usually text when there are pretty lo's to look at.

Authentic is really the best way I can describe Ali's lo's, the book and her.
And I don't even know her.
We met for like a minute at Memory Trends.
She is tall and has a deeper voice than I was expecting.
(I was SO proud of myself for not blurting that out when we met.
I do that.
Blurt out the wierdest things when I meet someone.
Just another reason for me to practice the art of being quiet more often.)

One of the things that totally smacked me in the face was this:
I CAN scrap something meaningful to me each day.
And if not each day, more often than I think I can.

I tend to save up ideas and photos for the right moment when I can remember all the details or have all the memorabilia from the trip. I want to get it right. Ya know?
Why am I concerned about getting it right more than getting it recorded?
I realized I do when when I saw a "day in the life" page she did for Simon.
There were like 3 from different time frames in the book.
I love this idea.
However, I know me.
I know what I would do.
I would wait for a special day...or at least a really interesting or organized day with matching outfits.
And I would want to record that instead of just capturing the messy and often mismatched days that are my life.
I wouldn't have thought about using the idea more than once.

Ok, that isn't what the whole book is about.
But that was my....what am I waiting for?!....moment.

It is also full of super ideas, tons of lo's and plenty of text that i found to be completely underline-able.

I am reading back over this.
It isn't as well written as I wanted.
(we all have chest colds here...not that lung capacity and writing ability are directly linked....but still)
But my point: as someone who owns a lot of books, this is a great book to get.
Christmas list.
I'm just saying...you may want to start hinting now.

Oh, and I stole this photo from Ali's blog.
Happy Tuesday!
kellicrowe

bad birthday pictures

next to Christmas morning
my birthday pics are the worst
either in a poorly lit jumpie-warehouse-facilityish place
or in the bright bright sun of the afternoon outside

but i'm ok with that
sorta

my new stratagy is to make those pics smaller
crop the daylights out of them
(sounds easier than just becoming a better photographer....)

i did this one for the mid month garden
but then used a diff one last minute to feature the BG chipboard embellishements

i painted these circles
and
then
put diamond glaze over them

that
is
a
lot
of
waiting
for
something
to
dry
for
me

happy friday!
we are actually at home with no big plans all weekend
i
am
so
pumped!
love just being home

book give away!

i swiped this image from simple scrapbooks
because i am too lazy to take a picture of the
3 copies they sent me
to
give
away

ok
so monday evening
probably about 1o pm EST
i'll give them away
drawing style
to 3 people
just post and tell me something random about you
(i love random)

wait
does it seem odd to talk about random
and give away a book on organization
at the same time?

have you seen this?
i don't know if it is still going on
but here is a contest by simple scrapbooks:

Funnest Scrapbooker Ever (for 2007) Contest
Are you the kind of scrapbooker who loves to take challenges, try new color combinations, play with products, and have FUN scrapbooking? Then you’re the kind of scrapbooker we’re looking for! Enter our Funnest Scrapbooker Ever (for 2007) Contest, and you could be crowned the funnest scrapbooker of the year (a title any scrapper should be proud to have). This contest is all about kicking off your shoes, letting loose, and having more FUN with your hobby. Relax! It’s easy and FUN.
Here’s what you have to do:
1. Tell us a joke.
2. Tell us in 100 words why you should be crowned Funnest Scrapbooker Ever (for 2007).
3. Send a picture of yourself in costume.
4. Send a picture of your funniest layout ever.
5. Complete three prompts from our Scrapbook Play special issue, and send us pictures of your layouts

YOU KNOW WHAT IS SO FUNNY?
the (2007) part

it cracks me up
i mean
i can hear the booming announcer voice
"THE FUNNIEST SCRAPBOOKER EVER!"
then in a hurried
fine print sort of voice
2007
void where prohibited
not to be used as a floatation device
etc.

do they take the sash away from you in 2008?
because there are some great prizes...but really
don't we all want the sash?

happy weekend!!

a few more memory trends photos

it is great walking around with your own professional photographer
the word on the wall actually read "modern"
i turned to becky novacek and said
"hey - can you take a picture of me jumping under that?"

Manhatten by Autumn Leaves

the colors are better in person
i am totally digging those cute owls
and the browns

DW calendar 2008
seriously...i got to see it at the show and it looks super
i'm biased
i know
but i can still recognize super when i see it
AND
i totally forgot that a winner from one of the challenges is in it this year too
how cool is that?!

i'm not sure if this is new...but love it

ok, crummy photo
but i loove these rub ons of trees

ok...this was TOTALLY cool
these 12x12 sheets of clear plastic
that you can cut into shapes, etc
and make clear albums out of it
how cute is this little album there?

ok, i took this photo from our booth
making memories was next to us
this was the pretty sight i got to see on my breaks
and
the folks in the booth were so so nice
i mean
most people at MT are nice
but not every booth likes for you to look around if you are there with another company
personallly
i like to take pics so i can remember what i liked once i get home
still
the whole booth was so great
and just so cute
and so nice

well, there hasn't been a picture of me in a while
me
outside of sephora
where they do not let you take photos inside
like the way i forgot to take of my badge when i left the show?
yeah, i wore it all the way to security at the airport
dork.

Designing with Recipes
ok, so you have 3 photos
whether you have been scrapping for 2 months or 10 years
we all have one thing in commen...we look at the those 3 photos and think
"how can we make these pics look different this time?"
go to chapter 3
all lo's and sketches in ch. 3 are 3 photo lo's
ch.1 = 1 photo lo's
ch. 2 = 2 photo lo's
all the way up till 10 +
i know
i'm biased...again....but i love the idea of this book

Rhonna's new book
i think it will ship in Jan
has a spiral
special pocket pages and vellum
very cool
takes you and lots of different kinds of scrapbookers
through Rhonna's steps of creativity
super great for a new person who asks
"where do you get your ideas"
and for someone who has been scrapping for a while
and just hasn't "wowed" themselves in a bit
i know...i soldsoldsold for 3 days
it is hard to turn it off:)

lots of new stamps - but these stitches are my faves

tracy, becky and me reflected in the elevator panel

new Whirley Gig from Mod
the colors are so great
once again
i need better photography skills

really, the show was very relaxed and pretty small
there will be tons more new at cha winter in feb

happy monday
kellicrowe

phoning it in from vegas

1. what happens in vegas stays in vegas....unless you invite me
2. getting ready for day 2 of 3 of memory trends
3. oj. nice one.
4. the show itself is a lot smaller than i expected.
5. however, a lot of the people seem to like the more laid back feeling.
6. if the pilot says, "ladies and gentleman...it looks like we have an excellent view of the grand canyon
out of the right side of the plane...that i am on the left.
7. i can't find my cell phone this morning. nice one.
8. there are some great new things here from Autumn Leaves and Making Memories. I need to take some pics today. i need to wonder around a little bit too during my lunch break.

one of my fave lo's i've seen
erica hernandez using Foofala's new Indian Summer paper

happy day..i think it is wed....
but i'm a little bit foggy on times and days
kellicrowe

organization

1. i am packing for memory trends. the calvery of grandmas and a daddy are preparing to take the kiddos. max keeps asking when i am leaving...a little too cheerfully if you ask me.

2. photo by kellidarr....we visited her family 2 weeks ago in nashville. had the best time. i, uh, fell off the dr. pepper wagon....big time. i am not happy with my hair here. and i actually thought it looked cute at the time. sigh.

3. organization. in preparing for the The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, what is you fave organizing tip?

4. do you have an orgainzing idea that crashed and burned for you? like totally didn't work.

5. me? my tip: i write it all down. ALL DOWN in my calendar where i can see the whole month at one time.
(shall i pause for you to write that down? yeah, i am remedial when it comes to this stuff)

what DIDN'T work
by kellicrowe

so i thought
i just need more lists
i likes the lists
and marking stuff off the list
i figured
if i just got like 5 or 6 legal tablets
and kept a diff list going for all the areas of my life
then i could stay on top of...or even ahead of...my life
so i had this stack of tablets and a family friend walks in the hose
says
"hey, what is with all the tablets?"
(still unlisted upon)
and i told him how this was going to organize my life
he said
"this paper is kinda cheapie on the tablets...
i just don't see cheap paper revolutionizing your life"

i never used those tablets
i thought
cheap paper whenever i saw them

happy day
kellicrowe

happy products

made this watching the Friends episode
where joey has a
man
bag

can a lo be too simple to be called a lo?
scan isn't clear because the frames are bumpy
these elsie frames (big and small)
are sooo fun
got them yest
totally inspired me

thanks for all the super super sweet comments on the last post
:):):)
dude...i almost cried reading them

enough with the serious
what is your current fave product?

happy Sunday
kellicrowe

so can i have a camera?

david: so can i have a camera?
me: why do you need one?
david: i need to take a picture.
me: oh, i can take one for you with my camera. what do you need a picture of?
david: of my crackers....so you can make a scrapbook page about it.

here is that picture.
still trying to figure out the best papers to use for this one....
and happy that my kids
while not enjoying the posing for pics
have the scrapbooking mindset.....
i think

happy Thurs
kellicrowe