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Let's Talk About the Weather... + GASC
When you need to pass some time with some small talk you always revert to the weather right? Everyone around here does. Well, I've got nothing to share today due to my back being out so I thought I would small talk you with the weather.
Of course I have visuals...
Yes, that is hail! Hard balls of ice that fell from the sky a day or so ago. It lasted less than 2 minutes. Magnus was quite facinated with it since it was still hot out when it happened. Talk about confusing to a four year old who is trying to understand seasons!
The weather has been seriously wacky lately and even today it went from boiling hot to freezing cold about 6 or 7 times. Magnus and I were constantly putting on and pulling off sweaters and we weren't sure if we should be in shorts or pants. No wonder we have had tornado watches recently. (Not common around here.)
Enough weather small talk? Yah, me too!
So I leave for Chantilly, VA tomorrow for the next Great American Scrapbook Convention. I am pretty excited to see everyone and since I have been resting so much my back is feeling better. Still sore but no more yelps of pain if I move. :) I guess I won`t be needing to teaching from a cot in the back of the room after all! I don`t think I will be bringing my laptop since I don`t want to wack my back again so no blogging while I`m there.
I am going to be in classroom 5 and 10 (not both at the same time obviously, lol) if you are going and want to pop in to say hello. I would love to see you. :)
There will be advance copies of Cut Loose at the show (they have awesome deals on books at the Memory Makers booth if you are going) and I have a book signing on Saturday from 1-2pm if you are interested (at the MM booth).
That`s all for today. I am sad I didn`t get to finish my project to share this week as this blog has been sadly lacking any actual scrapbooking but I hope to remedy that upon my return. :)
6/18/2008 4:37:29 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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A New Article is Up
Over here.
(Yup. That is me in that super, top of the line car seat! Oh and check out those thighs!)
I have done something bizarro to my back and am in mega pain. No scrapbooking, no bending, no anything I actually want to be doing. Not fun! I am resting and stretching and doing everything I am supposed to be doing to make it better. Oh and being grumpy too. That makes it get better faster I am pretty sure!
I am a little worried about having to stand to teach Fri. and Sat. in Chantilly this weekend but that is why I am resting. If not, I am sure I can get the good drugs...;) No worries if you cut your paper crooked then! It will all look good to me :)
6/17/2008 7:51:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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From the Mind of a 4 Year Old
So today I thought I might share some things that Magnus has asked me recently. I try to keep my Magnus posting down to a minimum but he is just so gosh darn cute I can't. He pretty much cracks me up daily and sometimes I just gotta share:)
**
Magnus: How old was I on the day I was born?
Me: Well, I guess zero.
Magnus: But zero means nothing. And I was not nothing.
Hmm, got me there. :)
**
Magnus: Can you hear the words in my head?
Me: You mean the thoughts?
Magnus: Yes, the words that are in there.
Me: No. Only you can hear them.
Magnus: That's good.
Hmm, that doesn't seem good... :)
**
Magnus: Is there a baby in your tummy? (He asks this 'cause my sister is prego)
Me: No. Mommy doesn't have any more babies in her tummy.
Magnus: No. I am pretty sure you still have a tiny one in there. You just forgot about it.
Umm, no....
**
And this was just from the last day or so. I mean, the things he comes up with! I need to start following him around with a tape recorder. People are always asking me how old he is because his language is so great. No baby talk for him!
All I know is he makes me laugh daily and he might make you laugh today too. :)
**
I am working on a scrappy project to share and hopefully I will have it done for tomorrow. Until then...:)
6/16/2008 12:53:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Beep, Beep, A Kidlet Craft
Made for Magnus with those mini cereal and tiny raisin boxes. Some construction paper, some adhesive + some fun embellishments and presto - fun little cars to play with.
Glitter stripes made with this + some glitter.
Racing arrows made with these. Love that they are self adhesive.
Tail lights made with red rhinestones.
After I made this one I realized I should have made it into a school bus shape.
Magnus loves, loves, loves these. Has played for hours with them already.
Just thought I might share in case you wanted to get kidlet crafty this weekend. :)
Enjoy your weekend everyone.
6/14/2008 10:15:21 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Burst of Energy + A Pretty Storage Solution
So today I popped awake at 6am! What? For those who know me this is crazy! I am a total night owl. But it was 6am and I was awake. I felt a burst energy with this early morning waking so I popped out of bed and was ready to start my day. Breakfast first.
With this little critter actually.
Apparently the bunnies like to be up at 6am too. I had cereal, he had dandelions. He just sat there eyeing me and munching the tops off the weeds. Then I folded a load of laundry and started a new one and then realized...it was way too early for me to be up! I mean WAY TOO EARLY! So back to bed I went! :) It was just a small moment of insanity. One I hopefully won't repeat!
Totally strange since I have been on the go since I returned from Arlington. With my ear infection and my hubby's blood infection there hasn't been any down time. If anyone has a man in their lives they know that they sometimes are not the best at sick bed time. At first he was too sick to care about anything. But by yesterday he was starting to feel tired of laying around. Not enough strength to do anything but mentally wanting to do something. But I solved that little dilema. I made a quick trip to the video store and rented a new game for him and made him park his butt on the couch. I am pretty sure he thinks I am the best wife ever! Seriously - being forced to sit on the couch and play video games??? What could be better to him? Oh ya, best wife ever!
So, back to scrapbooking.
Well, I haven't had any time for it lately. I mean, I have seen lots of people scrapbooking but me, myself? Nope, nada, zip, ziltch! So I thought another storage solution was in order. I showed you my stacking ways and my hiding spots but I do have one solution that falls into the pretty category. These little jars.
They line the top of my shelf and hold all my tiny embellishments.
Buttons, brad, sequins, rhinestones, flowers, etc.
Anything small that fits. I just open the packages and dump them in. They line up the whole length of the shelf and I probably have about 25 of them. I just bought enough to fill the shelf. I didn't have enough embellishments to fill them all at first but knew as time went on I would get more items that would fit. When planning your storage you need to make sure you leave room to expand otherwise you will shortly be re-doing it again. Pretty much all the jars have something in them now. I do end up using up some items completely over time (like a package of flowers) and will have a jar empty and ready for something new. For me it seems to be just the right amount of jars with the volume of scrapbooking I do.
You know what I like about these jars? First, they are clear and I can see the contents. Second, they are easy to grab off the shelf and dump on my table to sort through until I find what I want. Just as easy to scoop up the contents to dump back in (nice wide opening). Third, they look pretty. I admit it. I love how they look all matching and lined up along the shelf. Sort of adds unity to them even though they hold a wide variety of items. Even a messy girl like me can love pretty!
I also love they they were originally intended as spice jars. They come in 4 packs and were nice and cheap. Of course I got them at Ikea (have I mentioned I live next to a big city that has about 4 or 5 Ikeas?? Whenever I want cheap storage this is where I head.) I love that they can stand like a regular jar...
but they have one flat side so you can tilt them (sort of remind me of old fashioned candy jars).
This is why they look so cute all lined up together.
So that is my pretty storage solution. Pretty but functional.
***
Oh and one more photo to leave you with today - just 'cause. New critter in the front bush. One day old. :) 
6/12/2008 12:02:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Getting Ready for Chantilly
 
Trying to get everything ready for Chantilly, VA. Lots of work but lots of fun! I love packing kits - seeing them all lined up and ready for someone to add their creativity. Of course I alway make a big mess as you can see above! :)
Tomorrow I will have another storage solution that I prepped last week and never got time to post. Right now I am off to pack the last kits and take care of my mending hubby. I think the infection has halted which is a good sign and I am hoping he will start to feel better soon. :)
6/11/2008 11:03:31 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Everything Is Bigger and Better in Texas!
And this includes the desserts! Oh yum! The waiter was very clever at Pappadeaux's. He brought one of everything to the table to tempt us. And it totally worked! I had the way too big piece of cheesecake!! Best one I have ever had and that is saying a lot 'cause I really like cheesecake!
My hair totally agreed with the bigger and better in Texas thing - wow! I have long red, naturally curly hair and lets just say by lunchtime it was well on its way to taking over the world!
I had a blast at the GASC this past weekend. Wow, there was a lot of scrapping going on! I taught for most of my time there and it was great to meet up with loads of people from last year. I was surprised how many people I remembered! I also have to give a shout out of thanks to all my classroom volunteers. They really made my job much easier and I was lucky to have some of the women who helped me last year helping me again.
I love to get a chance to meet people in person. Got to meet some blog readers which was really amazing and I also met one woman who said I needed to get my head shot changed. Know why? She said in my photo I look really sophisticated and serene and in real life... well, I was much more of a goof and fun. I so love that! I think this means my head shot needs to be changed to a photo with my tongue sticking out. So this is for her...
When I come home from trips I always bring the kidlets some sort of new candy. Something that is different from what they normally have. Last year and this year it was a giant lollipop from Texas. Got to love the bigger and better in Texas thing when applied to candy...
Oh ya, Magnus was happy with my choice!
And then cause my kidlets missed their Momma I came home to this...
A performance including props and dance moves. (Magnus wouldn't part with his lollipop for anything!). I so love when the kidlets put on plays - and got to love the use of boxes! So great when kids use their imaginations to play.
Well that is it. I am tired but not as tired as I normally am after a weekend of teaching. I came home to a sick hubby which makes me feel needed :). (He's been sleeping the last 2 1/2 days and I had him at the clinic this morning - infection in his blood.) We have also been under storm and tornado watches the last couple of days which has made for some interesting times. I am getting organized for the next show but really just hanging out with the family.
Hopefully I will have some crafty urges soon. :)
6/10/2008 12:42:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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I made it!
I'm here in sunny (and super hot!!) Arlington, Texas for the Great American Scrapbook Convention.
Pretty painless flight (for once - no missing luggage, no delays!) and things have been great. I have had a chance to meet up with lots of people from last year and it is so great to see familiar faces!
Classes are going great and I am loving teaching. I got to sign my first autograph for the new book! Woohoo! I am not going to lie to you - it felt awesome! I admit to do a bit of a happy dance.
And that is it for today. Taught for 11 1/2 hours today and it is time for bed!
6/6/2008 12:07:41 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Don't you hate it when...
people don't update their blogs regularly?????
umm, sorry folks. Been kinda crazy around here lately. I have been trying to update since last Friday but haven't found a moment. :(
I leave for Arlington, Texas tomorrow (well I guess technically today since it is after midnight) for the Great American Scrapbook Conventions. Cannot wait to see everyone. :) If you are going to be there be sure to look me up. I'll be in a classroom somewhere...
I am going to try to update from the show but no promises. I am not 100% sure I am bringing the laptop since I am not sure how much space I will have. I am now off to pack.
Have a great one everyone :)
6/4/2008 12:31:22 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Hiding Your Mess - A perfect storage solution!
So this is where I am today.
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Where have all my tea towels gone? So, so completely weird. I have done all the laundry and folded everything yet I cannot find one single tea towel in the entire house. What? How is this even possible? I mean, seriously, where could they have gone? My house is not very big and only has one floor! Please expect wet dishes if you come over and heaven forbid you actually spill something.
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Magnus asked me what metaphorically meant yesterday. Huh? I had to ask him to repeat himself 3 times ‘cause I was so shocked. I mean how to do you explain “metaphorically” to a four year old? Plus, where did he hear that ‘cause I am pretty sure it is not part of the everyday language of our house! Oh and he has also started adding blah, blah, blah to the end of stories he is telling. As in – Nana came over the other day and blah, blah, blah... I have to admit it makes me giggle. He says in such a serious voice and with just the right inflection that it seems completely adorable in his little kidlet voice.
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Homework is punishment for parents. I think teachers know you did stuff the night before when you were a kid so they convince your child to do the same to you. The good news is I think I deserve an A+ on my project! It really rocks! (OK, before you think I did Harper’s project I am not that mom. I cracked the whip and made her work like a dog to get it done. The lesson should last for about four weeks until school is finished. :) Next year I am sure this lesson will need teaching all over again!)
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And then back to tea towels. They are fairly new too. Still fluffy and absorbent. The laundry room is literally right next to the kitchen. Open concept between the rooms actually. I just don’t get it! How. Can. They. Disappear. Completely??? Shaking my head...
Ok now on to my Momma Bear. As we were hanging out in our jammies yesterday morning (I figured as long as she was sick I might as well participate in the lounging in the jammies part...) we were talking about my house looking like a small tornado when through it (also called kidlet 1 and kidlet 2). I am forever feeling like my mom has a perfectly tidy house and mine looks like, well, a tornado went through it. She, being the super awesome mom that she is, is always reassuring me that my house is fine and that her house was always messy when we were little. (I have a hard time imagining this cause I always remember house cleaning perfection.) I, of course, mention you and how I was blabbing to the whole world my love of stacking and my messy ways and you know what? She let me in on a secret.
She loves drawers.
More specifically the magic of a closed drawer.
She swears that the next time I am over if I look in her drawers I will find mess. Now I have to admit I am skeptical. I mean my mom’s house is stunningly tidy. Always has been. (Maybe if we analyse me we will realize that I just still rebelling over a tidy childhood... LOL . Nope. Too big of girl for that! ) So, back to my mom and her tidy perfection. She claims that she needs everything to look tidy but she says that if I open drawers I will find she shoves things in when she is cleaning. I am pretty sure I am going to have to take her up on her offer to look in her drawers because like I said I am pretty skeptical. I think her “messy” and my “messy" might be two different things.
So why bring this up? Well, as way to introduce my next storage solution naturally!
Drawers are amazing for storage. Especially 'cause they hide things that are hard to store neatly. I don’t really have too many drawers in my scrap space but I do have boxes. As I mentioned before I store most of my stuff in my shelf from Ikea. I rely heavily on the open basket concept for most of my supplies. But I have hidden a few things with these. What I like to think of as “closed” baskets because you cannot see into them. This is what it looks like.
I have the whole bottom row filled with baskets that you cannot see into unless you pull them out. And you would not believe what they hide!
Want to see?
I know you do. ;) You are secretly enjoying my messy ways 'cause it makes you feel better doesn't it?
Storage for extra supplies that I like to have on hand so I don't run out.
Fabric pieces - yup I just toss them in!
This is my favorite - a basket that holds blank mini albums and items ready to be altered.
And one basket for the kidlets and their art supplies. They can just take out what they want and then toss it back when they are done.
Now, how do I decide what goes in these? Well it is all supplies that I don't need to see to remember to use. I know that if I want to start a mini album that I will look in the basket to find one that inspires me. If I think a page needs some texture and want to use fabric...Well, you get the idea.
Supplies that I need to see such as embellishments, stickers or chipboard I keep in open baskets. Supplies that I don't need visual cues from are hidden away. This helps to keep things looking tidy (even if it is just surface tidy like my Momma Bear says).
I also have boxes like this that serve the same purpose.
Inside I have stuff like this.
My paints - upside down so I can see the colors. I just roughly group them into warm and cool colors. The lid goes on the box and you don't see it.
And, umm, my ribbons. I swear it normally looks better but I dropped the box last week and I have been too lazy to straighten them. :)
I guess what I find is that I like to have some things out in the open 'cause if I don't see it I don't use it but that doesn't apply to ALL my supplies. If I had EVERYTHING out in the open I think I would get overloaded which can hinder my creativity.
I would suggest looking for supplies that you reach for all the time that you know you don't need to see to remember to use. Those are the ones that are good candidates for hiding in closed baskets or drawers.
I mean, messy people can't pretend to be neat with EVERYTHING!!
5/29/2008 8:48:45 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Really Quick Message
I'm posting a really quick message cause Momma Bear is sick and I am taking care of her. I mean, she took care of me when I was little and sick and it is only right that I return the favor. Plus she has pneumonia and nobody should have to take care of themselves when they have that!
It has totally thrown the order of my day off though...oh and the fact that I "forgot" that my grade 5 "Why is Canada Great" project is due tomorrow. You know, I could have sworn I had completed grade 5 already!!
So my house is a disaster due to homework and a sick momma bear (they haven't made the mess directly but it has evolved from me not following every person in the house around yelling - you should pick that up!)
This of course disqualifies me from offering any organization tips for the day. BUT I will be back with some hiding the mess secrets tomorrow. That is, after I get through the million emails that have piled up today (I sound really popular don't I??? LOL)
Hope you are all well out there in cyber world. :)
5/28/2008 8:21:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Storage for Scraps!
First let me say I am so happy to hear that there are other like-minded stackers out there! :)
And Michele L. left me this comment yesterday...
But my question is this: how do you stack brads, buttons and flowers? LOL
Love your sense of humor! I did imagine taking a photo of brads somehow all stacked up just to make you laugh but then realized that I would probably spend too much time on it...:)
Obviously stacking doesn't work for everything but I do have a few more tricks up my sleeve. ;) Today I thought I would show you my storage for my scraps. You know, those little bits of paper that as a scrapbooker we all feel the need to hang on to? I try to be "tough" with my scraps and only save what realistically I will use but I make a lot of scraps! For the longest time I used something like this except that mine was one big pouch - not divided into three sizes. It was 12x12 and had a handle on the top so I hooked it on the back of my chair. It worked for me for a long time except that the small bits always slid to the bottom and I was constantly digging out each section of the pouch to see my options. Eventually it was time for an upgrade. So off to Ikea I went and found this. Super cheap and just right for my purposes.
Remember I scrap on a dining room table so I decided to utilize all that wonderful empty space under it with my little rolling cart from Ikea. The unit has three drawers so I divide my paper scraps as follows - warms (reds, oranges, yellows), cools (blues, greens, purples) and neutrals (blacks, whites, browns, greys). The cart sits right next to me (my chair is to the right of the cart).
And you know what? I use my scraps all the time now. They are so easy to grab and since the drawers are big it is easy to rifle through looking for just the right piece. My kidlets also know that this stuff is fair game for homework (Harper) or random cutting/crafts (Magnus). I really, really love this system. I think what always happened to me before was I tried to put my scraps into too small of a space and it made looking for scraps feel like a bit of a chore. Not now. It is so easy to grab something from here and get right to work.
For me organization needs to be easy to maintain but it also needs to be easy to see/use. If I don't see it, I don't use it.
That's it for today. Seems a bit more normal than yesterday doesn't it?? LOL Back tomorrow with more :)
5/27/2008 9:34:36 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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