A little restoration of pictures.

These were found in bad shape. I think the scrapbooking saved the photos.

Technique Note

Just a quick answer to a question about aging done in my We layout. I aged the library card dividers using a VersaMagic  ink pad in a dark brown. They are those little droplet shaped pads and I really like working with them. On a lighter note, they smell nice too!

Ah, the children and the husband.

It seems like I should tell you about Us. We are a not totally normal normal family. One, sometimes grumpy and always loud (imagine Italian stereotypical families – lots of hand gestures) Portuguese husband. One mancub twelve year old soccer playin’ but not too old for couch snuggles. One girly Gabby, a.k.a. Gabberdoole, first grade, six year old, secret dog, and secret spy girl. Oh, and the Spanish teacher mom that often fails to get everything done.

We are far from perfect. We do know that sticking together is better than trying to do everything alone. In the last three years we have been going to grad school, working, playing, and, occasionally resting. Life has thrown us some loops. A new consulting business, some of the big questions about what family means, and work, work, work.

Fortunately, we are resilient and time heals wounds. Counting smiles is better than tears and sometimes fighting to find ways to make IT more important than could of’s and should of’s. We try.

Hamster LO

I am trying to meet a pub call from Scrapbooks etc. What do you think? Yes, no, maybe?

Kindergarten

I finished this LO last night. It uses Crate Paper pp & some My Mind’s Eye chipboard pieces. I am trying to get all of Gabby’s kindergarten pictures scrapped before first grade starts next week. As you can see this is a 9.5′ by 11′ inch page.

This has a lot of goodies out of the Label Tulip kit. You can see the film view add on and some of the wonderful add-ons. The patterned paper is Little Yellow Bicycle and Making Memories: The Great Escape.

This has been a fun little plunge back into some real scrapping. I have another girly girl Kindergarten LO; but I must wait for the sunlight to get a picture worth sharing.

Poetry III

If I had known when I said hello,

your departure would sting like slush puddle boots.

A shock of frost frozen feet,

followed by ice melting chill,

finally leaving wet wondering,

and a clinging constant comfortless callous,

I would have been quiet.

We

I really like this one. It has old library card dividers with our initials. What do you think? Is it worth submitting?

Sixth Birthday

This is mostly Cosmo Cricket products, with a bit cardstock. It is a a little peek at Gabby’s 6th birthday party. It was interesting to use the large chipboard pieces. I do get these in kits from time to time and this is Label Tulips June kit. I usually struggle to use these items until I applied some information found at Balzer Designs. I just left the pieces alone on the page.

I am struggling to get my head around some parts of scrapbooking. I have a hard time judging what is “good.” I understand basic design principles, but some of the details elude me.  When I actually go into a scrapbooking store I come out with almost nothing. All of the ornaments seem expensive or impractical.

I have to admit that is why I love kit clubs. I have so many things that I would never have purchased alone. It is a challenge to use really cool pieces well. It has changed my perspective on decoration in art and life.

My Purpose

I have decided to focus on lighter things. It is just because I am feeling drawn down a little bit lately. There is a lot of work to do outside of relaxation time. None of it is bad it is just the rolling of the process. Seeing goals through and marching through is my way and it is a sound path, but, right now, I want this dreamy, finding place too.

I have no grand secrets of life and joy. But, I do have some beauty and I will begin to look at it with a constant eye.

This is Littlest Pets with my Gabbradoodle.

Here we have three tweenage boys in an intercontinental war of Risk.

Play and fun. Friends and toys.