Memory Makers with Crystal Jeffrey Rieger

My To-Do List (for the week)

Fri, 09 May 2008 14:18:10 GMT

Fall directly on head; do not pass go, do not collect $200		This one is slightly painful but might be worth it ???
Have someone steal $1300 from bank account		Oh, I highly recommend this was just to see how high your blood pressure can go – really it is like a health check that should be done once a year!
Host impromptu late night party for small, sick kidlets from 12:30am to 3:30am		No prep required really – just make sure you fall asleep first so it feels like a surprise party!
Get zero scrapbooking done all week so you have nothing to blog about on Friday		I bet you really appreciate this one! ;)

Editing to add:
Hubby nearly dislocates jaw at Karate today – now it doesn’t close properly!		And he wonders why I don’t want to join Karate!!
But even more important to add:
Bank has caught the bad guys and put the money back in our account!		Hurray!
Kidlets are feeling better. After 3 days of Harper being really sick the meds are starting to work and she is less like a zombie!		She never gets sick so when she does it is a doozy – glad she is on the mend!
Sun is shining and it is 70°F outside!		I’ve taken the kidlets outside for some fresh air and it is doing everyone some good!! Ahh, spring!
And really awesome to add:
Totally forgot it was Mother’s Day this weekend so guess what I am asking for??		Oh ya – some scrappin’ time!! (Oh and some breakfast in bed of course!)

So Happy Momma's Day to everyone out there who is a Mom! Hope you get spoiled. :)

I Fell ON My Head!!

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:46:02 GMT

Not I bumped my head, banged it on something or even fell and then bumped my head. No, it was more like – Go straight to falling on head; do not pass Go, do not collect $200!

Want to see whose fault it was?

I am pretty sure he is toying with going to the dark side. Just look at him mocking me with what looks like a thumbs up! Remember you heard it here first - Obi Wan Kenobi is thinking of going over to the dark side!

So this is how it went down. I was innocently walking through my bedroom and was unaware of Obi Wan’s evil plan. You see he was laying waiting in the middle of said floor and I was barefoot. As any parent knows stepping on a toy such as this will cause weirdly strange pain (especially if contact with the bare arch happens!) So I stepped, Obi Wan got my arch, and I tried to make a strange hoppy movement to stop the crazy, weird pain. I, of course, lost my balance and instead of falling like a normal person I went directly down on my head. Right in the middle of the forehead. Now that is pain! My hands did try to stop the fall but they were useless. (I am pretty sure Obi Wan knew this would happen!) I have to admit that even in the pain I laid there thinking – wow! I wish someone had seen that ‘cause that was hilariously funny. I mean movie funny. Like that could only happen in a movie and no real person falls that way.

Again, I am pretty sure this was Obi Wan’s plan all along. He is going to be one evil dude if he converts to the dark side.

So, throbbing headache still, I am taking it easy today. Was supposed to be making some scrappy stuff but my head is hurting too much.

So today I will share another sample for a class I am teaching.

This is from my class Paradise Point. It is offered at all 4 GASCs but I believe both Arlington, TX and Chantilly, VA are sold out. That leaves it open to the folks from Grand Rapids, MI and Chattanooga, TN.

Class is sponsored by Fiskars and Heidi Grace and we make a really fun mini album. See for yourself.

Lots of fun texture, clear pages and easy to make - great for any photos.

The class is offered on the Friday of the above shows – 4:00-5:30pm.

OH and one more thing. I have had some inquiries if I am going to be selling some class kits online to people who live too far away from the GASCs.

I am looking into it. Some of the products in these classes are donated so I obviously cannot sell any kits that have this but I am looking into getting everything figured out. So if you are interested in any of the class kits you see posted, then shoot me an email. I have started a list. There is no commitment – if I can get it arranged I will email you and you can decide then. If you change your mind I will just move to the next person on the list. OK? Questions? Email me. I don’t bite ;)

How Many Times Can I Say "Supporting"?

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:16:22 GMT

So yesterday I feel like I made a PSA (public service announcement)!! I had no idea how much everyone was going to like the stapling/cutting idea for rub-ons! I have so much positive feedback that it makes me want to go look through my scrappy stuff and see what else I do that you might like. :)

So a couple quick things today.

First - registration for the Grand Rapids, MI Great American Scrapbook Conventions opened yesterday (July 25-26). I have a bunch of classes that I am teaching there so if you live nearby check it out 'cause I'd love to see you.

Second - I have a new article up at takegreatpictures.com.

Obviously, it is about the supporting photos that you want to take for your scrapbook pages. You know - the ones you take to highlight the details of your main event. These photos play an important roll on your pages but sometimes we don't give them the attention they deserves.

As I was writing the article I felt like I kept saying "supporting" over and over. There just wasn't another way to put it!

So I have a deal for you - go read it and then the first person to report back here how many times I used the word "supporting" will win a prize. I have one mini kit left from the other day - the sample that I made up to show you - that I will send you.

Go. Read. Report back here. :)

(the tally includes the titles, the intro and article - really any time you see "supporting" on the page!)

Rub-ons Rubbing You the Wrong Way???

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:59:55 GMT

Do you hate this as much as I do?

You have to cut apart the sheet so you don't accidently transfer a rub-on that you don't want to transfer. And then this?

Trying to get the darn thing back in the package but of course it won't go easily cause it is all weirdly shaped now!!

This is how I solve the problem.

I cut them apart and staple the backing to the transfer sheet.

This way they don't get ruined because they are shifting off the protective backing and you don't need to scream everytime you have to put them backing in the packaging! (You've heard me, right?!!)

Pretty easy to move them around my page until I get the spot I want and then I just quickly remove the staple.

Simple but effective.

Happy Scrappin' everyone!

**Just editing to add - after I cut and staple them I toss them back in the original packaging. This way they stay together, don't get damaged and I can easily store them.

Crafty Hangovers Anyone???

Mon, 05 May 2008 13:41:42 GMT

So did you spend Saturday or part of the weekend scrappin'? Feeling happy and on a creative high or completely spent and slightly bleary eyed this morning???

Either way, I hope you got some time to enjoy this hobby we all love so much!

I did get to scrap this weekend. For quite a bit of time actually. It is so nice to scrap for more than a few minutes here and there. I love to be able to sit for a couple hours in a row and really get into a project. It is a real luxury which I am grateful to my husband for. He kept the kidlets occupied Saturday morning and I got crafty. Made a mini album (more about that in a minute) and later that evening after the kidlets stayed in bed I got to play again and made another mini album! Oh ya, I was in the zone! LOL

I did feel as if I had a crafty hangover Sunday morning when I sat to work to on some pages (kidlets were out!) and I just sort of sat there pushing things around. Felt nicely all used up from the day before. I said to my hubby it is not often that I get to say I need to take a break cause I have done so much scrapping! LOL Was a nice and contented feeling.

I did do some more scrapping last night after the kidlets were in bed and I think cause I had taken a break during the day (and spent the day before being creative) I felt like I was on a creative high. I ended up creating a page that really made me happy. I mean every little bit of it was just right to me. It has been awhile since I have been so creatively satisfied with a page. Since before that crazy creative overflow a few weeks back actually.

And you know what is great -the page is for someone else. I was creating a page for someone and it is a wonderful feeling that it turned out so right. I am mailing it off to her today so once she gets it I hope she will let me share it here. I definitely want her to see it first. :)

So, now I need to show you some of my creativeness from the weekend!

I worked on class planning for the GASC and created this mini album for my Heart & Home class.

This class is sponsored by MAMBI and it is going to be awesome!

I love this little book and the products we are using.

In this class we will be making a little album that is all mixed up! Some pages are house shaped, some are circles and some are hearts. Plus there are some clear pages as well as some made of chipboard. So fun to work with albums like this because even before you decorate it they look good! As you can see it is full of bright colors and will really suit any family theme.

This class, called Heart & Home, will be offered at both the Arlington, TX and the Chantilly, VA Great American Scrapbook Conventions. Times and dates as follows:

Arlington, TX - Thursday June 5th - 11:00-12:30pm
Chantilly, VA - Friday June 20th - 6:00-7:30pm

I hope to see you there! :)

Oh and a reminder - registration for Arlington, TX closes Thursday May 15th at 11:59 EST - so if you were planning on coming you better get a move on! LOL There will be class registration the day of the show but your best bet is to register now to make sure you have a spot in the class you want. Most of my classes are either sold out or almost sold out so get your butt in gear and sign up! Pronto! I want to see you :)

And We Have A Weener...

Mon, 05 May 2008 01:10:41 GMT

Drumroll please....

And the winners are.....

02/05/2008 11:11:43 AM

Very cool!

Kelsy
04/05/2008 3:51:37 PM

So cute! Thanks for the chance

Raquel G
04/05/2008 4:06:58 PM

Wow those are too cute. Would love to win one :)

Robin Orgera

>
02/05/2008 10:14:34 PM

These are so cool. Happy National Scrapbooking Day and Celebration!!!! Thank you for doing this.

Debby L
03/05/2008 3:56:59 PM

these are so cute! thanks for offering, hope I win!
Meg

Megan

I will contact those who left their emails and if you didn't leave your email and see your name here email me. I will send them all out tomorrow!

Hope everyone had a great weekend scrapping :)

(winners picked with this)> > >

National Scrapbook Day Blog Giveaway!!!

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:21:41 GMT

So in honor of NSD tomorrow I thought I would do a little blog giveaway. :)

I made up some little mini kits that I am going to give away which are perfect for a little brag book or even a mother's day gift.

There are 10 kits in total and they are all different. I am going to give away 5 on this blog and 5 on my MyCraftivity blog.

All you need to do is post a comment on either blog (or both if you want!) and I will draw names Sunday night at 9pm EST.

And this is what the mini kits will make up.

Hope you have a great day tomorrow with lots of scrapping. :)

May 3 - Editing to add: You do not need to leave your email address when you post a comment if you do not want to. I know they show up and if you are not comfortable then just skip that step. Your comment will still post. BUT you do need to post your full name (so I don't have 7 Sally's and not know which one won) and will need to check back to see if you won. :) Hope everyone is having a great day!

Do You Know What This Says To Me?

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:48:39 GMT

Progress. :)

These are my book layouts. All of them. Some I haven't seen for a year! Approx 18" tall!

Returned to me because my book is done! Woohoo. You see your art gets sent in for photography and then they need to hold it just incase something needs to be re-photographed. When your book is finally printing they send it back to you. This is progress. Book progress. :)

And it makes me very happy. :)

So, enough about me. What are you doing for National Scrapbooking Day? Scrapbooking I hope.

Me? I'm hoping to get the kidlets occupied and spend some serious time with my scissors, paper and adhesive. They miss me. I've been neglecting them.

Today’s Pep Talk Brought to You by the Word...PROGRESS

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:31:19 GMT

So here’s the deal. I’m a blog surfer. I love creative blogs. I love to see what people are creating and their thought process. It sparks my creativity. It drives me to get my butt in gear and put my ideas together in some form.

BUT. Seeing all the amazing creativity can have its down side. It can make a person feel inadequate. Like you cannot possibly ever measure up. Like you would have never thought of making “that” in a million years and "it" is so amazing. Do you know what I mean? I am sure you do ‘cause everyone has insecure days. You have to be pretty thick skinned not to.

So here are my thoughts on the subject.

I know you are not supposed to compare your creativeness to others ‘cause we are all individuals, yadda, yadda, yadda! But come on. It is seriously impossible not to sometimes. It happens to us all.

BUT TO ME creativity is about progress. Yes, today’s word. What is important in being a creative person is that you are making progress. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro I would hope you were always making progress in your craft.

So yes, it is good to have inspiration in others you admire – something to push you but it is not good to get bogged down in not being as “good”. Ok, repeat. Seriously. It is so obvious but sometimes I need to be smacked in the head with it.

So the best way to feel good about your creativity? Look at your progress. See where you were and where you are now. So start at the beginning.

Here is the first page I ever created.

Yup, the very first.

So I look it over with a critical eye. Not a negative eye. Just look for areas I would do differently now that I have been making pages for awhile. I know some who would be embarrassed to show pages from the past because they feel they look dated or amateur. But I say look at it as progess. There is that word again. Progress. Where you were in the past and comparing it to where you are now.

So these are the things I see.

I never wrote any journaling on it. Always meant to but never did. Something that I would never let happen now. It is way too important to me.

My craftsmanship. Wow. has this improved over time! I had some serious glue issues but now I can wield glue with ease.

Floating photos. I know how to anchor items visually on the page now as well as how to make a page flow.

I could go on but you get the idea now. So then to confirm my progress to myself I look at a recent page I have made.

Big difference. Progress.

Journaling – check. No stray glue – check. No floating photos – check.

I know this shows an extreme difference but I want to hit myself over the head with it. J I could even do this with a page from a year ago and see progress.

So when I am feeling like – why am I creating? I’ll never measure up - I can perform a progress check-up and realize that there is always room for improvement. That should be my goal. Not to be as “good” as_________.

And that’s it. Simple but it is helpful to me and maybe to you.

(I am writing this down today so it will be here when I need a pick me up and also for you. So if you ever need a pick me up you can come back and read it. It is hard to remember in the moment of feeling negative to remember this. So bookmark it. Label it – Creative Pick Me Up. Then come back and read it. Hopefully it will make you feel more positive.)

Real Birthday + Challenges?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:36:52 GMT

So today it is official. It is Magnus' "real" birthday. I had trouble explaining to Magnus that Saturday we celebrated his birthday with a party but his actual birthday was today. He responded with, "So I am having a fake birthday and a real birthday?" Well, I guess. Kind of. So hard to explain these things to a four year old who sees in black and white. I have to say his logic did make me smile.

And today he woke up asking if he was getting a real cake today for his real birthday. I think he has probably been reading this book too much. All about a real vs. pretend (great book by a Canadian author)

And the best moment from his birthday party on Saturday?

When he opened the above present and exclaimed that he had wanted it for years! Made everyone laugh with that one!

And now I wanted to ask you - Should I start up the Friday Challenges again? I sort of stopped cause I got really busy but there were a bunch of you playing along and must have a little book half full and waiting for more. Let me know in the comments if you want to do them again or email me.

Oh and don't forget to visit me at MyCraftivity. You will see I have turned into a Crazy Craft Stalker there - read here to find out more. ;)

Quick Cropping Tip

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:27:00 GMT

You may already know this but I bet there are some out there that don't so I thought I would share.

A lot of times I crop my photos directly on the computer before printing but that it is not always possible, especially when printing a lot all at once. So sometimes they getting printed even though I know they would look better with some simple crops to take away distracting background details. For example see the photo below. It would definitely look better with some of the bold background taken away.

So I make manual crops with my paper cutter. But it is easy to crop to much or too little - and the cuts are permanent! So I use these.

Pretty boring looking aren't they? I made them myself out of black cardstock and they are about 2" wide. I just used some scraps. But look what they can do for you quickly.

By moving them around it is easy to get a visual of what the photo will look like cropped. Once I have a crop I am happy with I just make small marks in the corners and then get busy with my paper cutter!

So simple and so easy to make. Hope it helps someone :)

(Oh and thanks to my sister who is the person in the photo - she made a great photo model for this demo!)