Easter Pictures of my darlings

I am using it all!

Yup, that's right, I am using my scrapbook supplies from now through April I am on focused quest to rid my scrap room of all the semi-outdated items in it. I have created a huge stack of items that are just going to goodwill, charities, school, friends, but they just have to go, they are so outdated that if I look at them any longer I will actually feel the inspiration draining from me. The remainder of my scrap products fall into one of two categories, recently purchased but will quickly go out of style if I don't use them and I love this no matter what any magazine or trend says. So there you have it I am on a mission to use what I have, I will fill you in as I go along.

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter everyone!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day with family and friends, don't forget to take a ton of pictures!

Journaling - The good the bad and the ugly!

I have to admit that I have I have a fascination with journaling, when I first started scrapbooking I cringed at the thought of journaling and set it aside to complete at a future date. As my kids got older I felt like the momoents of their lives were slipping away from me, I never wanted to forget how I felt about them at different points in their lives, and just like that journaling became one of the most important elements in my scrapbooking. I will admit there are times when names and dates will suffice, but there are also layouts that convey deep feeling and love for my family, there are even layouts that bring tears to my eyes when I re-read what I have written to my loved ones. So I hope the next time you scrapbook you remember to add some form of journaling and keep in mind it doesn't have to be a long sappy love note, just something real about your feelings towards the subject of your layout.

Still not ready to get down and dirty with your journaling? That's ok, just focus on your title for now, a good title can convey so much about your subject.
1. The tone of your title whether humorous, sincere, serious, fun all tell a little about you ( the designer) and your subject.
2. The title alone can convey the message of the layout, check out Kristi's 4 The Love of Art layout below, not only are the colors awesome and grab your attention, we know her little guy is a total art addict.
3. Don't be afraid to get creative with your title, convey your message creatively.

Happy Scrappin'

San Diego Weekend Escape Photos!!

I have finally added the photos from my San Diego Weekend Escape, we had such an awesome time. It was wonderful seeing old friends and making so many new ones, everyone was just great!!

I am looking forward to the Fall Escape, Tons of details coming soon. For now enjoy these photos!

It has been like a ghost town around here!

Hi everyone, it has been a whole month since i blogged, I honestly can't believe I left my little blog unattended for that long, but I am back, February was a busy month, I had the pleasure of attending CHA with the awesome So Cal Scrap Girls, then the following weekend I spent my days at the expo, the weekend after that I was busy retreat planning and the month ended with my San Diego Weekend Escape. All in all a great month with tons of fun scrapping events going on. I will be sure not to leave my little blog unattended for that long, Happy Scrappin'

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Join me in congratulating Kristi as the winner of the Out Of Your Box Journaling Challenge, I totally loved her submission, not only were the pictures ADORABLE but she did a great job on the journaling, Congrats Kristi!! Check our her entry below "For the Love of Art".

Just for Fun!!

Hi everyone I thought I would post something on here just for fun, sometimes for no reason at all random quirky movie quotes will pop into my head, so I thought it would be fun to see if anyone else knew what movie this cam from. Here it is:

"Put your mittens around your kittens and away we go"

Have fun!

Journaling Challenge Entry --- SOOO CUTE!!

WOW! Check out this entry from Kristi B. for the journaling challenge. I love it!! Not only are the pictures totally sweet but she did a great job of using her journaling as a design element and the title rocks, I love BOLD color that just jumps out at you!! Way to go Kristi!!

Out of Your Box Journaling Challenge

Out of Your Box Journaling Challenge
Yes you read that right, J-O-U-R-N-A-L-I-N-G Challenge, Get creative with your journaling, go beyond the basic details like date, location, and names, and really share something! Whether it's a feeling that the pictures evoke or a unique way of displaying your journaling, this is your chance to break out of your box!!

Due: 2/ 5 /08

E-mail your entry to Jessica@scrappin-escapes.com with the subject line “OYB Journaling Challenge"The winner will be announced on Feb. 8, 2008 here on my blog.

{You Made My Day}

{You} Made My Day
Kristi nominated me for the "You Made my Day" Award! Wow, that was too sweet of her and yes she totally made mine as well. This is a fun idea I hope you choose to pass along the good blog vibes.
Here's how it works:
"Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland!

Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times!"

Ok so my list is totally short TODAY, I plan on adding many more of the great blogs i read, I just haven't had too much time to go blog hopping in the last few days. Trust me there are so many of you who post inspiring entries on your blogs that I will definitely be adding to my short little list.

Kristi B.

Now its your turn to spread some blogging LOVE!!! - This is such a cute idea!

I'm Back . . .Been MIA for awhile!

Sorry I have been MIA for a bit, it seems like I have not had a free moment in the last few weeks, between preparing for our upcoming retreat in February and my family obligations it seems there aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done. I think I am back on track . . . I hope lol, anywhoo I spend this past weekend at the Del Mar Fairgrounds at the First Annual Scrapfest, I was promoting the upcoming retreat, teaching a class, and doing make and takes, in between all this fun I was able to meet so many wonderful scrappers, everyone was so nice I look forward to attending again next year. I didn't take nearly as many photos as I would have liked, but here are a few enjoy!

PS If you happen to see your pretty little mug on here, don't be shy drop me a line and say HI!!

Out Of Your Box Color Challenge Winners!!!!!

Congratulations to Laura Casey & Robin Morgan, these two ladies will win a fun prize from me for their awesome layouts! Thank you ladies for your participation, you can check out their entries below under the Out of Your Box Color Challenge! The next challenge is coming soon, so keep your scrappy eyes open!!!

Out of Your Box Color Challenge

I wanted to share with you 2 of the layouts submitted for the Out of Your Box Color Challenge the challenge was to use a minimum of 3 of the selected colors (turquoise, brown, yellow, orange and lime green) and create anything you choose, altered item, card, layout, whatever. These girls did a great job at using these colors, I know it is hard for me to use colors that I am not necessarily crazy about. Great job ladies!

You still have time to join in! Final due date is 1/15/08


Layout submitted by Robin Morgan



Layout submitted by Laura Casey

Why I Scrapbook . . .

I was at a crop this past weekend, and while I was fighting a splitting headache (That would eventually force me home), I was talking to some to the girls I was sharing a table with and somehow the topic of embellishing came up. One of the girls was saying how she had so many pictures to put in albums that she didn’t have time to be embellish beyond the basics, that is when it hit me I don’t scrapbook to preserve I scrapbook to be create. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my table mates approach to Scrapbooking, it just made me reflect on what I am doing, If preserving key facts and my photos is the reason I scrapbook, then why don’t I just find a photo safe album with the lines on the side to jot down notes. I don’t because I love making something special out of my photos, I love using ribbon, buttons, staples, paper, glue, brads to create something fun and beautiful, that’s why. Photo preservation may have been the premise under which I have been scrapbooking, but the truth is I do it because it appeals to the creative child in me. Of course I want to leave something behind about who our family was, but think about it when we look at old photos of our loved ones we don’t stop to think wow this would look better matted in pink with buttons and ribbon, we stop and look at the faces and the people we reflect on who they were and how we are connected to them, and if we are lucky we know the names of those people and the dates of the photos. It also occurred to me that I don’t need to put every picture in an ornate decorative album, however I do feel the need to put every picture that evokes emotion in a truly special album! So this has been my little rant on WHY I SCRAP! Have a great day!

Newsletter Contest Winners!!

Congratulations to Mickel Pepper!! Mickel was the Grand Prize winner drawn from everyone who entered this contest. I would like to thank everyone who participated, I had a great time giving out all kinds fun little prizes to all the winners. I also decided to give everyone who who referred a friend a RAK, so if your name is on this list be sure to send me your address and I will send you your RAK, you do not need to resend me your address, if you already sent it for the previous contest. Thanks:

Laurie Rush (5 total RAK's)
Ming Luong
Tina Mayo
Laura Casey
Kelli Tran
Carlee Murphy

Happy New Year!!!

Happy new Year!! So it is officially 2008 and as promised we have all kinds of fun stuff going on!!

Out of Your Box Color Challenge
Part 2 – Due Jan. 15th

Colors: Yellow, Brown, Turquoise, Orange, & Lime Green

You will create a card, layout, tag, altered item whatever you like the only requirement is that you use the colors selected from part 1 of the challenge, you must select a minimum of 3 of the above colors. That’s it, the point of this challenge is to step out of your comfort zone and get creative!

E-mail your entry to rivpunk@aol.com with the subject line “OYB Challenge – Part 2”

The winner will be announced on Jan. 20, 2008 here on our blog.

For additional information: http://www.scrappin-escapes.com/Contests.html

So Cal Scrap Sketch Challenge

If you are looking for some fun challenges to start out your year be sure to check out the So Cal Scrap site, they have a bunch of challenges and contests going on. I am currently participating in 15 week sketch challenge, here is my entry, and the sketch I had to work from. I really love this picture of my Abby, it was taken while she was watching the Beluga Whales in the Wild Arctic Exhibit at Sea World. This first challenge is not due until 1/2/08, so you still have time to get in on the fun here is the link:

So Cal Scrap Sketch Challenge

Happy Scrappin'

It's Almost 2008!!!

Wow, another year has come and gone, so before we say goodbye to 2007 I have a few fun little announcements:

1. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Newsletter contest, I have sent out quite a few Rak's and still have more to send out!! Be sure to check if you name us on the list of winners, if you are on there be sure to send me yoru address so I can send out your RAK!!

2. Originally we were giving out additional RAK's for every 5 people who you referred, guess what? We are giving a RAK to everyone who sent referrals over. The 5 referral RAK Winners are:

Laurie Rush (5 RAK's) and the following scrappers will each receive 1 referral RAK:

Ming Luong
Tina Mayo
Laura Casey
Kelli Tran
Carlee Murphy

Great job ladies, Thank you so much!!!

The prize pack winner that was drawn for everyone who registered for our newsletter is . . . Tricked you, I can't tell till tomorrow, you can read it in our Newsletter or here on our blog!!

3. Out Of Your Box Color Challenge, the colors selected and winner will be announced tomorrow!!

Well that's all the contest announcements I have for 2007, thank you for visiting and have a happy and safe New Year!! See you in 2008!!

2008 Desk Calendar