One Little Word

You may have seen Ali Edwards' One Little Word classes. She's been doing this for the past few years. I looked into it a bit last year, but decided not to take it on because I had so much on my plate and I was in a transition period with my scrapbooking. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay with traditional or convert to pocket. I have since made the decision to go with pocket scrapbooking for everything with the except of my Title Pages. Some of those won't be 12"x12", but most will.

From what I gather from Ali's blog, One Little Word is about your daily life. I haven't signed up for her class. I thought about, but after talking about it with people who have taken it, I decided not to take it. If you love Ali's handwriting, you may really like it. I am not really into other people's handwriting in my scrapbooks. I struggle enough with journaling in my own handwriting so I don't want to add someone else's to the mix. Maybe once I get to the point where I'm not bothered by my own handwriting in my albums, I'll give into other handwriting being in there. I don't mind family and friends' handwriting on things like cards, pictures from children, notes, etc. I'm getting better with journaling in my own handwriting!

One thing I have started doing to add to my pages is to find information. What does that mean? Many of my photos are from traveling. I love touring historic homes and nature sites so those make up the majority of my photos. I have started to really keep track of where we went. I save all of my brochures, tickets, and memorabilia from wherever I go. Once I print the photos and scrap them, I spend time on Google and research the places I've been. I include things I think are important to know about where I was. It's amazing how quickly our minds lose this information. I will share this in more detail in a future blog post.

So I have been working on my journaling! When I did traditional scrapbooking, I absolutely hated journaling and wanted no part of it. It's interesting how my attitude has change when I changed my style of scrapbooking. I am actually enjoying looking up information about places I've been. It's like I get to reminisce and go on a mini vacation while scrapbooking. I'm also realizing how fortunate I have been in my travels especially for someone my age. I know people twice my age who have never really left the town they grew up in! I feel so sad for them. There's so much to see and do out in the world!

I've made several big changes to my personal life in the past year. Scrapbooking and paper crafting is a huge part of my life. I was unhappy with this aspect of my life. I felt like I was buried in photos, papers, and embellishments. I really had too much stuff and had no idea where to begin. I would get so frustrated and just give up. There was a period of time where I actually considered giving up scrapbooking or going completely digital. I really wasn't digging the idea of digital. I like digital and the pages I've seen and made are nice, but I didn't want to be glued to a computer for hours on end and what would I do at crops? I love going to crops and it's rare to see someone doing digital at them.

I knew something major had to change. My unhappiness couldn't go on. If it meant selling all of my scrapbooking supplies, then I was prepared to do just that. I decided to go through every scrapbooking related item I own and part with items I have never used and owned for years and the items that just no longer fit my style. This was before I started pocket scrapbooking. It took me a few months - literally - to go through every single item. I had a major scrapbook sale once I completed this task. I plan on having another scrapbook sale in the spring. Yes, there's that much left!

I felt relief when I cleaned everything scrapbooking out. It was desperately needed. Parting with items was tough. For some items, it was like saying goodbye to an old friend. For other items, it was like bye bye....who cares? I made a deal with myself that every 2 years I will go through every scrapbooking related item I own and see if I need them still. If I haven't used an item in 2 years, it is going unless there is a big plan for it. I do have some items that I purchased for big things like Sheba's last day when we took her to a park and Milo's last months. I haven't been able to scrapbook those moments, but I am putting together a plan of action!

One thing that I recently decided to do that has shown me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel is to no longer randomly print photos and scrapbook whatever moves me at the time. Several years ago, when i had only a handful of digital photos this methodology worked just fine and dandy. now that I have around 100,000 photos, it's not happening and I'm getting nowhere. I just end up buried and frustrated. So starting this month, I am going to print all of my photos every month. In the beginning of February, I will print all of my January photos and I will scrapbook them in order! Crazy, I know! :)

What about 2003-2014? And what about the printed photos from film (remember that stuff?) Well, I start organizing my 2014 photos and getting them sorted by month, then day, then by which sites we saw. I print all the photos by quarter. My first printing of 2014 will be all the photos from January through March. I will scrapbook them once I have completed my 2015 monthly photos. Does that make any sense? I will slowly work backwards after I keep up to date the current going ons.

After making these big changes to my scrapbooking life, I felt relief. I'm no longer drowning under my favorite thing. Scrapbooking really is my life. Scrapbooking is part of my life every single day of the year. Even when I'm on vacation and far from my supplies, I am thinking about what to use to scrapbook today's photos or what I need to order to complete the pages with the photos I took today. I also look for scrapbook stores whenever I travel. I'm also on the hunt for brochures, maps, schedules, advertisements, stickers, tickets, menus, and whatever memorabilia I can find to add to my scrapbook albums. I bring all of these items home with me and sort them by state in zipper bags. These items are never shipped home not matter what. Often times when we fly somewhere for a trip, we have to ship a box home because our luggage is full or there are items not allowed in carry on so we just ship it home. These items are put in my laptop carry on bag and that never leaves my sight.

So what does all of this rambling have to do with One Little Word? Surprisingly, a lot. Remember me saying how unhappy and frustrated I was? Those two words appeared far too often in my life. So I decided I needed to make several changes. This all leads to my One Little Word:

Yes, I am going to be happy this year! I am going to figure out what changes need to be made so I am happy every day. No, I don't have to walk around with a goofy smile, be phony about it, or just fake it. I truly want to be happy in every aspect of my life. I want - no need - to be happy with my scrapbooking. This is my job! Who enjoys being miserable while working? No one I know. Who wants to be unhappy every day because they're frustrated with something that goes on every day of their life? No sane person!

I need to be happy. Don't we all?

Weekend Retreat

Ever attend a weekend retreat or a weekend crop? If not, you must! They are fabulous. I just got home from one hosted by an amazing scrapbook store in Butler, PA which is just outside of Pittsburgh.

The Scrapbook Super Station is really one of the largest scrapbook stores I've ever been to. She carries so much more than just paper and cardstock. She has lots of embellishments, inks, stamps, mixed media (squeal!), altered are item, lots of Tim Holtz, and so much more.

This week there will be tons of pics and info about what I completed. Inky Hot Mess is introducing something called Glam Veneers this week. They're pretty sweet. I'm sure you will love them as much as we do! There were tons of questions about them at the retreat.

I will show what to do with photos that aren't printed in true 4x6. Oops! Did you know digital pics are actually 4x5.33? Yeah, I printed these pics loooooong before I started pocket scrapbooking. Imagine my surprise and annoyance. But it all worked out and the layouts are pretty jazzy if I do say so myself.

You'll also see what the girl who dislikes journaling does with her journaling. Yeah, back in the olden days before electricity and running water when I did traditional scrapbooking, I never journaled. Absolutely hated it. I sucked at keeping track of date also.....hello they are on digital photos so how hard was it to write it or stamp it? Apparently, it was too challenging for me. :)

This girl previously hated alpha stickers. Save your tomatoes....you'll need them for the salad you'll be eating tonight while you check out my posts. I used bunches of them. You'll get to see what happens when they collide with ink and what I do what I can't get them to sit perfectly on a card. No point in having a nervous breakdown over a letter....especially since the trash was sitting just 8 inches away.

Come back soon for lots of info and goodies! You'll be happy you did! Come back even if you don't pocket scrapbook. You'll love all the info and pics. This stuff will work for anyone who has ever taken a photo!

Think Tank Tuesday

Something new I'm starting! Every other Tuesday will be reserved for my Think Tank Tuesday posts. I may post other projects as well, but I will focus on Think Tank Tuesday for the mort part.

What is Think Tank Tuesday? It's all about paper crafting tips! Now that doesn't mean it will actually involve paper. Have something you're interested in? Message me! And I'll be sure to cover that topic.

This week's Think Tank Tuesday is all about photography. Photos truly are the backbone of scrapbooking. Where would we be without our photos? With the digital age, we have hundreds if not thousands of images at our disposal.

What about photography? Take a photography class! There's so much more to photography than point and shoot. You can take your very own photos that look like a pro took them!

I recently took a photography class from Sarah Kristiansen the owner of Sweet Jane Photography who is based out of Providence, Rhode Island. Confession time! I know Sarah from Crop on the Cape. I met her last year while taking one of her classes at the Crop. I was soooo impressed that I started following her business on Facebook and was overjoyed to see her offer workshops.

Shhh. This is Sarah looking glowy as  I
like to say. We were learning about
back lighting and being glowy.

She's actually working on more workshops! I'm so excited about this. I learned so much in just one day. I can't wait to see what else she can teach me and I can learn.

I finally understand aperture! I have taken classes before, but never quite got a full grasp on it. Now, I feel like I get it. I also understand shutterspeed and ISO. Granted, much of this has to do with DSLR cameras, but so many people have them now and don't know how use them to the best of their ability. Sarah really is all about getting you off of the auto built-in functions and into controlling your camera. You're the boss applesauce!

I shied away from having multiple lens once I got my Canon T3I, but after Sarah's class I see what one can do with a different lens. For example, I only have a zoom lens which is great for the landscapes I frequently shoot in my travels. However, it doesn't work well in low lighting unless on a tripod and I can leave the shutter open for days or what feels like days. My photos were all blurry and now I know why and most importantly, I understand why they are blurry! So lens shopping here I come! I also need to get a flash and yes, my camera came with a built-in flash, but it's pretty useless for a lot of shots. I learned a bit about using flash in my class as well.

Ribbons blowing in the wind. Notice
the fan looks like it's barely moving?

So while I may have driven over six - yes, really - hours to take Sarah's workshop, it was so worth it! If you are in the New England area or are looking for a fantastic photography class, I highly recommend Sarah's workshops. She is also teaching a couple of short classes at Crop on the Cape and you can now sign up for the classes without attending the Crop.

It's really amazing what you can shoot once you have the knowledge. Photography isn't all about the equipment. You need to be armed with knowledge as well.

One great place to check for photo checklists and ideas for photos is Pinterest. Yes, Pinterest. I find many monthly photo checklists and challenges. Arm yourself with your camera and get out there!

Until next time *

A photo a day will keep the doctor away....okay maybe not, but you'll get to see the world around you!

Photo Sales!

Snapfish:
Use coupon code PENNYNOV and get 500 4" x 6" prints for 1 cent each. Yup 500 prints for 5 bucks. Expires 12/3/11.

Winkflash:
Coupon code ONLY6CENTS will get 6 cent 4" x 6" prints! This discount is unlimited. So if you need to print two thousand pics like I do at times this is a good deal. Expires 12/5/11

Until next time *

Print your photos! Don't keep them starved for attention in your computer!

Another Photo Sale

Don't you just love photo sales? No excuses not to get your photos printed now! Just in time for the holidays and making books to share with your families. Time's ticking.....don't remind me!

Like Winkflash? Well, guess what? They like you, too, and are having a sale. You can get as many prints as you want for 6 cents each. Seriously, if you need to print 20,000 or 20, it's 6 cents per print. How cool is that?

Oh you need the discount code, right? Might help.....hehehe Here it is: ONLY6CENTS and it ends on 11/08.

So simple. Again, don't wait until the last night of the sale to upload your photos. Trust me. I have a bald spot from pulling my hair out in the weeeee hours one night doing this. Save yourself the aggravation. Everyone and their grandma is on these sites during the last few hours of the sales.

Until next time *

Seriously, why haven't you printed your photos lately?

Discount Time!

Camera chip full? Thousands of photos sitting on your hard drive hoping to escape one day? Well, now is there chance at freedom! 

Snapfish is having a sale! And I do mean a sale. You can get 300 prints for 1 cent each. Yup, 300 photos for $3. No kidding! You can use the discount code up to 5 times.....that's 1500 photos! 

Here's the Snapfish code: SPOOKY300. 

Don't have a lot to print? Seriously, what's your secret? Please share with the rest of us. We could totally use it. Well, Snapfish is thinking of you folks, too! Here's the same 1 cent sale for those only needing 100 photos: SPOOKY100. This one can also be used up to 5 times.

Hurry! These offers end on 11/06. Don't wait until the last minute to upload your photos. The last day of their sales, the site can be pokey. Yup, I'm speaking from experience.  

Until next time *

How long has it been since you printed photos?