Resolutions

I'm not a big fan of Resolutions. They usually set you up for failure. However, this year I'm going for it:

1). To clear the clutter from the house. I just know that I will feel less stress if things were easier to manage and while a gigantic PITA it will well be worth the effort.

2). To pay more attention to my appearance. Time to face the fact that cute doesn't cut it anymore. My middle aged bod needs a little more work to look good than it used to.

3). To be true to myself when scrapping. If you aren't a scrapbooker then this one may sound bizarre. But, it's so easy to get caught up trying to duplicate
trends and fads. I want to find out exactly what my style is and be true to it.

4). Home decorating My fear of picking the wrong paint colors will end this year and I will finally get on the road to getting the house to look the way
I know it can.

5). Dental work If you know me well then you know that I suffer from mouth
pain almost everyday of my life. I spend more time at the dentist than most people
spend with their spouse. I hope in 2007 to finally become pain free. Even though
my nerve damage makes it difficult- I would love for this to happen.

6). To throw at least one party! I bought this house with dreams of entertaining. So far- not so much.

7). To find a Nintendo Wii for Jake This is up there in difficulty with scaling Mt. Everest.... but, with perservernce I just know it can be done.

Nintendo Wii

I despise Walmart. I have been relentless in my pursuit of a Nintendo Wii. After a failed attempt to purchase system on Release Day I stayed up all night on Amazon.com waiting for their release- which never came. They accumulated 600 complaints that night that they promptly deleted.

My next attempt was to compile a list of local stores that carry it according to the offical Wii site and started making daily calls. Still no luck.

So my son and I camped out waiting to get one only to be 2 people to far back in line.

Our local radio station was filling xmas wishes so I wrote to them that all I wanted was to locate and be able to purchase a Wii. They read my letter on the air and called me with the names of 2 stores that had it in stock. Trouble is everyone else heard it too and beat me to them.

This morning I got up at 4 am so I could be at Target at 8 am when they opened. When the doors opened I was shoved aside by a group of 20 something boys who ran through the store and bought all the controllers. They didn't have any Wii's in stock.

That afternoon I recalled my phone list only to find out I missed Wii's at a local Walmart by minutes. She said they were delivered by UPS and that they maybe they were headed to the next Walmart down the Highway. I called the store and the associate suggested that I come in and wait.

I stood there for 20 minutes hoping only to be approached by a Manager and told that I couldn't just stand in the electronics department.

I could have Snapped... seriously. I give up. Poor Jake.. the kid did nothing to deserve this let down.
::::sigh::::::::::

My Scrapping Room

My Scrapping Room is a disaster. I have a huge table as a desk and it's so cluttered that I find myself clearing a 12x12 space in the center just to scrap. I'm determined at the very least to get my desk in order today. I am posting a before picture and promising an after picture. That should get me motivated. HA!

Antique Stores

Yesterday I had to run errands and found myself popping into a local Antique's Mall.
I found this killer cabinet and couldn't pass up it's $12.00 price tag. I'm planning on using it in my Scrapping Room. I also found a set of Old Disney rubber stamps from France, some funky plastic icicles, a book on Typography an old jar green jar the exact color of my room filled with antique buttons and some fun old Xmas greenery perfect for embellishments. Score!

Old Stickers and Such

I really like the look of mismatched letters. I read a tip the other day (I can't remember where) that suggested taking any leftover letter stickers and unused title stickers and any other alphabets you might have and cutting the letters apart. Then sorting them by letter in Embroidery Floss Keeping boxes. I love this idea!

And The Award Goes To...

What a find! While dropping off some donations at a local thrift store I found a bag of these little plastic pieces. I knew instantly that they could be painted and altered and definately used in scrapping. It took me a while to figure out what they were- pieces used to adorn trophies and awards! Pretty cool, huh.

Confessions of a Doodler

Hi, I'm Amy and I'm a Doodler! I confess I doodle on everything. I think it started when I was in school and it carries on today. You'll find my handiwork all over the house. On the back of envelopes on bits of scrap paper. However, when it came to scrapbooking I was very timid about drawing on my layouts. I decided to challenge myself and not only doodled- I doodled an entire background. I love the result and am happy to report - I fear scrapbook doodling no more!

Ho! Ho! Oh, No!

What's wrong with me? I just can't even start thinking thinking about Christmas! Usually my absolute fav time of the year- I used to be one of those nauseatingly merry, merry people. If it stood still it was decorated. My packages wrapped in perfectly coordinating papers and tied with handmade ribbon bows. Suddenly, I find I wish it was all simpler- more about family being together than all the decorations and outrageous spending. I actually think I am just going to display our nativity scene this year and nothing else. I know the dog for one will be happy-no giant red bow around her neck and silly antlers. Here's an Xmas shopping scrapping tip- keep your eyes open for fun ornaments and garlands made for mini-trees. They make great embellishments! The ones shown on this library pocket came from a mini tree garland that I found on clearance right after the holidays. Bonus!

Score!

Love a bargain! Love a unique scrappin' find! Today I got both in one purchase. Go me! What is this find you ask? Party picks. You know those fun little picks or skewers with something cute on top sticking out of fruit or fru-fru drinks. At the grocery store today they had boxes of 15 on sale for 99 cents. Perfect for a swap. I've been using fancy toothpicks as embellishments for a long time. I love these little flags. Perfect for anything patriotic.

Busy Weekend

I'm not going to go into details- but, I am glad that it is the regular week so I
can recover from my weekend. Why do things always happen at the same time?

My inspiration for the day is when scrapping stay true to yourself. It realized
lately that I spend so much time scrapping that I miss doing other things I like
to do. Like needlework. My solution? To make needlework for my layouts.

So last night I dug into my stash of antique buttons and recycled wool I've
felted and stitched up some flowers. I think they turned out pretty cute.



Well, cute enough to motivate me to make more!
If you'd like a chance to win these flowers they are offered as a prize to
all who enter the scrapbook challenge here:
Rocky Mountain Hobbies :: View topic - Oh Crap Challenge

Things My Dad Taught Me

My Dad helped me learn calligraphy. For
some reason I don't use it in my scrapbooks.
I think I don't because nobody else does. It
isn't the "in" thing. Gosh, that is a hard
realization. I am always telling my boys to
follow their own instincts and not to worry
about what others think. Time to take my
own advice.



This is a page of Calligraphy borders that would
be wonderful for Freestyling ! It comes from an
old college text book that was my Dads in college.
I've loved this book of Type Specimens for as
long as I can remember.

PocketMod



These are so cool! Just go to this link http://www.pocketmod.com/app/index.html
For free you can create the ultimate
organizer. Choose what you all you want to include
Shopping List, Calendar , Games, Phone book and
many more. Print it out and follow the folding directions.
The tiny business card sized pages will work
great for journal and embellishing scrapbook pages!

Dog Tag

This tag came on a dog collar I purchased
at Old Navy.



I love it yet it is so simple. Some color, some text
and a die cut? We can do this!

Felted Wool

This is an ATC card I made for a swap.
I love the look of felted wool.

I think I actually inspired myselt to make more
wool things for my scrapbooks.

Stripes!

Lately I've found I'm just crazy about stripes.

I think the color combinations alone are inspirational.

Button Tags

Aren't these tags darling? I love the shape, the layered papers
and the idea of showcasing a collection or souveniers in rows!

Well this is it...

....my first blog entry. I guess I should start with why I've created this blog. Each and every day I find something that inspires me. I always think I will remember them and then when I sit down to scrap *poof* inspiration gone. This blog is to keep my inspiration alive and to maybe inspire others.