May: Mark your calendars!

I am getting pretty excited about all that's going on in May:

iNSD: 

The fun really started today over at The (dash) Lilypad. You can head over to their official iNSD forum to join in. There will be lots of releases, including the Build Your Own Collab (aka the BYOC) and a 30% off store wide sale on older releases.

Saturday, May 3rd, Get It Scrapped is having a live crop from 8am to 11pm. It's free, it's fun, and you can register for it HERE.

And because I love iNSD, I have a post up on My Scrapbook Art today to get you in the mood to celebrate what we do.


I'll be giving away some goodies Saturday and Sunday as well, so check in here!


The Challenge:

We're doing a page a day in May over at Get It Scrapped. There's no prize except the satisfaction of getting pages done with a supportive group of scrappers. We always have a great time, so feel free to jump on in. We welcome everyone! Failing the challenge is also perfectly acceptable. :)

I'm using the challenge to finish my 2013 Month in Review album and work on the series of photos I took earlier this month driving home from dinner. I created this page to get an early start:




Masterful Scrapbook Design Process Play:

I'm completely excited to be a guest teacher for this issue of MSD, which goes live May 7th. The assignments really made me pay attention to how I approach pages, what order I put a page together, and what tools and techniques I use over and over again for each page. You can sign up HERE for a membership, which includes:

• Immediate 6 month access to 48 classes:  36 Masterful Scrapbook Design classes  and 12 Scrapbook Coach classes (smart device friendly) 
• A new class each month  
• Weekly live webinar events (that are recorded and available to stream or download)
• Sketch and template library – search by # and type, link to class content and to full downloads
• Everything is downloadable for you to keep

You can try the free classes to get a sampling of Debbie's teaching style, which is both fun, easy to understand and comprehensive. The membership is such a great value for any level of scrapbooker, paper or digi. 

The Products:

This weekend there will a new Storyteller. I say it every month, but I LOVE this new one. I think I've created one of my favorite pages ever with it. Lots of goodies for hybrid scrappers as well and great layer styles. Plus the handy dandy magazine! 

Jenni Bowlin is releasing some great new digital product and reminding us of some tried and true must haves.

Did I get everything? Let me know if you have anything fun going on this month. I'll add it to my list. :)

Backin' up because my daddy taught me good...

One of the great lessons of adulthood is that your realize all the cliches are true. For the digital world, I think an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Let's talk about prevention. If your using your computer in your scrap process, you probably need to make these seriously boring habits a part of your routine. I know I do.

I'm gonna share what I do each month to keep myself from drowning in digital chaos and making sure our family doesn't have a serious interruption to our digital life. It seems like a lot, but I've figured a little trick to keep it quick and easy-peasy. I'm going to share what I do and when I do it in a handy-dandy list:

Downloads Folder
the folder(s) everything you download ends up
I do the tasks in this group before I download new product in a new month. That means before I do any downloading on May 1st, I do all these things. Makes it a lot easier to get scrapping after shopping!

• Unzip Files
• It's easy to unzip in batches with free programs like Unzip Them All
• Delete or store zip files
• I keep my zip files awhile after I unzip, but keep them in a folder named "unzipped" so the files are out of the way
• Organize and delete all other files
• The stuff you accidentally download, only needed temporarily or are no longer useful... AKA the stuff in your digital junk drawer

Supplies
If you're like me, you have a lot. I don't do much organizing, but if I do, it's done with the things in the Download Folder group. 

• Organizing
• Put your files where they go. Even my basic organizing system means I have to do this. If you want more ideas for organizing, click HERE. 
• Tagging
• I admit, I never do this, but if I did, I do it after organizing. 
• Deleting  
• This could fall under Organizing, but because of the fear it elicits. If you want to delete supplies, but can't quite hit the actual delete button, try creating a "maybe delete" folder. Put the supplies you thought to delete in the folder, then wait six months to re-evaluate your feelings about the product. Chances are you'll either see the product and want to use it or you'll toss it. 
• Backing Up
• I use Backblaze. After the initial back up, I turned of the automatic back ups. I'm not wired into router, so the constant backing up bogs down my interwebz experience. Instead, I switch the back on at bed time the same day I do my planning for the upcoming month. 
• I'm also creating a second back up for my printable layouts and favorite photos by taking advantage of free Flickr storage. 

Photos

• Organizing
• My system is loose like my supply system. I organize by date the photo is taken. 
• Tagging 
• I PSE to import my photos, so I use the auto tagging feature when my photos are loaded. I always make sure to write the meta data when I'm done, so the tags stick to the file. 

• Processing
• I do this as needed. 

For great tips, tutorials and classes on organizing supplies and photos, check out Digital Scrapbooking HQ. 

Computer:
Unless otherwise specified, I do these things when my computer starts feeling slow or every Sunday before my shower. 

• Organizing Files
• I do this at the beginning of each month
• Deleting Unnecessary Files
• I do this before I back up my files
• Clearing software clipboard and cache and/or optimizing performance
• Did you know your scrapping and photo software had these things? They do. When my programs hang, I always clean things up. Here's how:
• Photoshop
• Elements
• Paint Shop Pro
• Cleaning out temporary files 
• I do this twice a month or if my computer starts to lag a little. Norton has button to push to accomplish in the tasks menu and I imagine other security programs have a similar button. You can also do this manually (make sure you can view hidden folders):  
• Start Menu>Computer>OS(C:)>Users>Your Computer Indentitfier (may have a little lock by it)>App Data>Local>Temp the delete all those files. Some will stay, so if your computer insists, skip those. Done! 
• Deleting Browser Data
• You can do this in the Control Panel under Internet Options. If you aren't using IE, open your browser and delete your data with the browser's native tools. 
• Checking for Malware, Spyware, Registry Errors, Viruses and Tracking Cookies
• I use Norton and Malwarebytes programs. 
• Running Disk Clean Up
• In your Accessories Folder you have this really cool tool that cleans stuff up. Run it. Check all the dialog boxes, hit OK. 
• System Reboot
• Because it's good to get a fresh start after doing all this stuff. 

Hardware:
We do this with all our electronics whenever we clean under desks. My hubby is incredibly anal about these tasks! We have more canned air than anyone ever should.

• Vents ensure they are clear of debris and nothing is blocking air flow
• You'd be amazed at keeping vents and ports free of dust improves performance and keep the fan healthy (a computer will not run without a fan). Don't kill your computer this way.  
• Check Wires 
• Are they in a safe place? Completely connected? Is any metal exposed? Are prongs damaged? 
• Clean & Dust
• This includes things like your mouse, mouse pads, headsets. Use a lens cloth on your monitors or products formulated for cleaning. Turn your keyboard upside down over a trash can and shake gently. You can use a slightly damp cloth to wipe down your hardware. 

Did I mention BACK UP!! That's what I'm currently doing and writing this post while I wait for things to finish up. The trick is to incorporate these tasks into your routine. It will quickly become habit and you'll avoid mega-digital-disasters, too!




P.S. The video at the top of this post is the song I listen to whenever I back up my files.

Take time to play

I haven't had much time for making pages that aren't assigned. It's been a whirlwind two months. I thank the stars for my CT work because I'm not sure carving out for scrapping would happen. Sunday night I decided to grab a kit, dig in and play because nothing! Because I wanted to! I went a little crazy.




I'm happy with the result and glad I got this story down while it's fresh. I used this month's Art Social, which isn't Easter themed, but perfectly colored for Easter pages. I need to make more time for play and experimenting. I think I'll work it into my May goals...

A Happy Easter

Hello Interwebz!

Yesterday was Easter. We didn't have much ado over it as my in-laws are currently in Haiti (lucky devils). It was just us, but we still had a happy day.

Saturday we dyed eggs. My husband came up with these two gems while I wasn't paying attention:

I made the traditional Easter Snaik egg:

This page, which I created a few years ago, tells the story of the Easter Snaik (excuse the sad kerning and leading... I didn't know better when I made it):

Of course, no holiday activity would complete without a kitty photo bomb:

After dying eggs, we discussed the origins of Easter (the Christian origin, not the Pagan one). We talked a lot about Judaism being the Jesus was a Jew. Then we watched some of The Bible, which is currently on Netflix.

We aren't religious, but both my husband and I have studied religion extensively. My kid self-identifies as Christian and we encourage him to learn more about it. Discussions on the topic of religion are always interesting and always leave my kid to want to know more. I love his curiosity and living in a time where he can satisfy it immediately. But wow, I forgot how violent the stories are in The Bible!

Considering Easter Sunday was cold with steady 25 mph winds and gusts nearing 40 mph, I was glad the Easter Bunny opted for an indoor egg hunt this year (so were the cats who discovered eggs roll). I don't have any photos sadly because I slept through it. That kinda happens when you have wait for your kid to fall asleep on a holiday eve. It wasn't until 3am that the Easter Bunny finished his work. Anywho, hubby didn't take photos.

Easter dinner was breakfast, thank goodness. Eggos for the win! I finished my day with a long walk with James the cat and some non CT scrapping... perfect-o! I hope everyone else had a wonderful Easter (or Sunday), too.

I ♥ the 80s & more

Do you love the 1980s? Or do do you at least remember the 1980s? I was a kid during that decade. A very neon and pastel loving, awkward, chubby kid. I had the Mary Lou Retton crop meets Charlie's Angels feathered hair. I hated that my mom didn't allow me to grow my hair out. Granted, I did refuse to wash it most of the time, but as a kid, you don't think like that.

This photo is from a summer trip to Denmark, my mother's native land. I'm with my Morfar (grandfather) and cousin at Legoland. While I could have focused on a lot of stories, I went with my first reaction to the photo: I can't believe that's me. I wish I could tell her how rockin' her style was on the second trip to Denmark.

The page's title in Danish. Translated "stil" is "style". The words on the paper strip say it's my cousin and mother's father at Legoland. It's a way for me to record my Danish heritage is a part of me even if it's not the page subject. Sometimes I ask my mom how to say something and sometimes I use Google Translate and what I know of the language.

Despite my awkwardness, I love the colors of this kit. The rubber-ish and plastic elements remind me of the trendy toys and baubles I love as a kid. The kit makes me nostalgic. I wanted the page to channel 10 year old me. I used handwriting fonts and too many colors. I grounded and organized the page with the black elements while controlling the flow with the rainbow lined paper and pocket squares on a "T" composition.

Did I mention that the kit is newest installment of Just Jaimee & Mommyish's Real Life in Pockets series? That's kinda important to know.


Just Jaimee & Mommyish Designs: Real Life in Pockets- Old School; Fonts: Too Much Paper!, Pea Sunshine, DJB MOUSEKATEER KIM, DJB Truly Creative

You're going to notice eventually that I've been using a lot of Fonts for Peas. Stephanie Semple turned me back onto them after seeing it on one of her pages.

Also new today is Jenni Bowlin's Bright Travels paper pack created by the talented Lisa Dickinson. I love the happy colors! Last week, I took a photos on the way home from our dinner. It's a whole series from the car (as a passenger of course) documenting the route we travel regularly. You take those sights for granted in the moment, but as a kid, I remember the route from my house to D.C. fondly for some odd reason. Or the route to the grocery store.  I even remember the first time I took to back roads to our first home in Delaware. Those routes changed and morph over time.

But I didn't scrap that yet. I had intended to, but the story of the ritual my husband has of stopping for drinks before going home emerge in the midst of scrapping this page and wouldn't let go. That's normal for my process. I start with an idea for a story and it takes me somewhere unexpected, but perhaps more important.



Jenni Bowlin Studio: Bright Travels Paper Pack, Mini Deck Great Words, Vintage Bling, Die Cut & Perforated Paper Collection, Flags & Stars, School Days Alpha; Fonts: Serial Sue, Albertsthal Typewriter

You'll probably be seeing more photos from the series on pages.

Speaking of process, I'm thrilled to tell you that I'm a guest teacher for next month's Masterful Scrapbook Design: Process Play. It will be live May 7, 2014 and I'm super excited about it!!

Also, interNational Scrapbooking Day is quickly approaching. I have a treat planned for my readers. Get It Scrapped is having a live crop with sponsors and prizes. Get the details on the blog and in the forum. I'm not sure what's in the works for the stores, but I'm sure it will be awesome and prize filled, too!

Get It Scrapped, Jenni Bowlin!

I have two pages up on the Get It Scrapped blog this month and they both happen to be on the same theme. I didn't plan it this way, it's just how it worked out. Both are about dealing with unexpected problems.

The first is about our printer. We don't get along with our printer. I don't think I've ever owned a printer that worked well. One day a few months ago, I woke up to to what looked like printer-pocalype.  My husband tried to print a document and ended up printing every single document that has ever been in our printers queue.

This is how he feels about our printer (warning- the music in this clip drops some f-bombs):



I started the page with the title and the photo. I knew I wanted to use the overprint technique on the title which was Accept Print Failure As Part of the Process. That's how I'm able to keep my cool when using my printer (and why my hubby is not). The photo wasn't pretty so I wanted the title to be the focal point.

I created the title without the repetition of the word "print", so it was just a block of text. I also added the framed photo on the right. The title just floated on the page, so I decided to fill out the column with the word "print" knowing it would echo the story. It took me awhile to figure out repeating the frames would do the same and give a place for journaling to live. The embellishing is minimal, but if you look hard, you'll see that I actually ran the word "print" down the left and right edges of the page. The arrows also repeat (it's actually tape) on the bottom right.


Sara Gleason: Tea Rose; Amy Martin: Blanc Stitches v. 2; Pink Reptile Designs: Tape It; Just Jaimee: Storyteller March 2014- Paint, Imprint on Me; Brandi Sutherlin Designs: Stamped Dates; Font: Bebas, Pea Twist Me Pretty


The next page was for Channeling Doris Sander. I love Doris' Style. It's quirky, inviting and thoughtful. She has this ability visually connect with the viewer that is so endearing and so Doris.

I had these photos from our last 12 hour power outage that interrupted our very digital Saturday. I was in the middle of finishing up some work and the kid had plans to play with a friend online that he'd been looking forward to all week. We made the best of it with family time instead.  I wanted to take Doris' style and put my spin on it, so I picked out the things I always notice about her pages- see the article. Her style meshed well with mine and doing this helped me feel more confident using multiple patterns, which is something  Doris embraces.


Amanda Yi Designs: This Just In; Kaye Winecki: You & Me; Queen of Quirk: Better Than Ever Alpha; Fonts: dearJoe 1 M&S

The last page I'm sharing with you today is a Jenni Bowlin page. Oh, how I love these products. I also love having a girl kitty for whom I can create feminine pages. Kitty Katniss (her official name) sleeps on the couch next me when she sleeps. When she's not sleeping, she's talking. Talking to me, to the other cats, to ceiling, to the birds outside, to anyone who will listen. She is also loud and persistent.


Jenni Bowlin Studio: Jeweled Butterflies, Vintage Bling, Vintage Cream & Black Collection, Sunny Skies Papers, County Fair, Speech Bubbles, Wren Collection; Fonts: Art Brewery, Circle Shadow, Pea Miley Mix

Tips: For the butterflies, I warped the shadows to give them depth. You can use smudge in PSE for a similar effect. I made the hearts and arrow speech bubble stamped by running the eraser tool over it with reduced opacity and hardness. It's quick and simple. You could also use Jaimee's layer styles for more stamped looks.



P.S. My hubby did well with his heart procedure- no stent, no bypass, just diet and medicine treatment. Yay!!

Get Off My Lawn, Life!

Monday, I thought I was going to post about how to scrap from an authentic place during hard times and not making viewers want to slit their wrist after looking at your page. Monday was also my son's 13th birthday, which prompted my brilliant topic. After all, autistic kids have a whole set of struggles that at first glance don't feel scrap worthy, but if you look deeper you can find rich, positive meaning.

I had good intentions. I even had photos. I also had a cake to bake & boy who actually wanted to watch a 3 hour movie with his parents (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) & by the end of the day was in allergy hell. I just didn't get the post past the first paragraph, so I decided to finish Tuesday.

Tuesday morning, my husband had a cardiologist appointment. He was seeking clearance for a surgery and had his heart tested a few weeks before. Instead of coming home with that clearance, he came home with a surgery schedule, orders not to exert himself and eliminate stress. His heart sometimes goes wonky because the permanent damage from the Chiari Malformation causes neurons to misfire or not fire at all. (Interesting to note that most Chiari related deaths are caused from the brain forgetting to send the signal to breath during REM sleep) It turns out that he has a blockage that could could cause a heart attack at any moment.

Next week, he's having a cardiac catheter test, which I'm sure has a better technical name. If the blockage is moderate to severe, he'll have surgery the same day- either a stent or bypass. If not, it'll be treated with meds and lifestyle change. Needless to say, there's been a flurry of activity in our house to get everyone situated just in case.

How's that for hard stuff? On top of this, my allergies are the worst they've been since childhood.  After two weeks of hives, stuffy and runny nose, itchy and water eyes... I'm just exhausted. My mother is visiting after Easter and we just started redecorating, both mean there's lots of spring cleaning to do. Also, my calendar is packed with appointments for me and my son.

There's no big revelation in this post except that real life happens and I need a nap so I can scrapbook all the junk that raises my blood pressure and makes me laugh.  

I'm an ice cream snob

My dad raised me as sort of ice cream connoisseur.  I grew up across the street from the family that owned Hovermale's Taste Best, whose frozen custard is probably the best in the country and very close to the Danish version based on my extensive sampling.

Vanilla is my absolute favorite flavor. I can tell real vanilla from artificial vanilla, cream from milk, frozen dairy product from ice cream. My palette has skills that drive my husband, the ice cream purchaser in our house, absolutely bonkers. His only safe bet, other than ice cream from our local dairy, is Ben and Jerry's.

If it's not a decent ice cream, I pass, unless there is cake involved.

I made this page about my vanilla love. I almost titled it "Vanilla Isn't Vanilla", but that title didn't go well with this composition. The kit is Just Jaimee's contribution to this month's BYOC at The (dash) Lilypad. It consists of elements and two paper packs- regular and painted.


I've been trying to incorporate more pattern papers into my layouts, so I digitally cut hearts out of the painted papers so I could use them. The burst background makes it easy to decide where the compositions lives because all the lines lead to center.

The hearts gave me the option of breaking out of the center enough to be visually interesting while remaining connected to the burst pattern. They also helped the circular embellishments make more sense with all the hard lines. The polka do paper adds a bit of grown up-ness to the page,  creates a shelf for the the cluster and gave the journaling a place to live.

And here's a bonus page. I just did some free scrapping. It's not my favorite, but at least the memory is recorded. Good new! You don't have to love every page you do.



Can you tell I like that font? Pea Miley Mix it's called... not too far from my own handwriting, which I plan on making into a font, but haven't gotten around to it.

Oops! I lied! That font is Pea Stitchasaurus Rex, available free HERE.