Congratulations!

Congratulations to Karen of Maysville Missouri for winning the explosion album raffled off at the Maysville Country Harvest! Karen selected the Christmas album from the three offered.

To get your own explosion album, visit my website!

Country Harvest

Wow, its hard for me to believe the summer has flown by so quickly, but here it is, the middle of September!

The fun thing about fall is the craft shows! This Saturday you can join Designs of Mine at the Maysville Country Harvest, beginning about 8:00 AM. There are rides for children, a baby show and sibling look-alike contest, a parade (at 2:00 PM) and lots of great booths like mine! This amazing fun will take place at the courthouse square in Maysville, MO. You should probably be there ;-).

I am excited about some new products for my booth this year. In the past I have displayed samples of my custom projects, but this year I have several pre-made items for sale. While all of my things are still available custom made, you can purchase these pre-mades and take them home with you-- no waiting, no contract!

So get out and enjoy. See you Saturday!

Disappearing into the Void

Okay, so you may or may not have noticed I have taken a small hiatus from blogging. And facebooking. And e-mailing. And life in general.

Well, I have a good excuse. You see, I have focused my creative talents in a new area. Instead of creating scrapbooks, I'm assembling a baby. Very talented of me, wouldn't you say?

I expect to finish this project by the end of the December (my official due date is the 29th). And I apologize for my absence from the living world; it's possible I have been a tiny bit sick. (And more possible that I have been a lot sick!) However, I am getting as back to normal as it is possible to be in this condition and scrapbooking is back on the list!

Just as soon as I finish this pickle sandwich and take a nap...

That's What It's All About!

Previously we discussed how to use scanned photos to create a digital scrapbook album which can be printed into a hard bound book. But what about the originals?

While it is true not everyone can have a copy, originals are still important documents. Be they newspaper clippings, photographs, certificates, drawings, or rationing stamps (got some of those!) the "real thing" will fade and disintegrate over time without proper care. The scans allow you to view the same information indefinitely, but there is something priceless about holding a document handled by others decades before.

Museums and historical archives have been using various techniques for years to preserve artifacts. While you may not be willing to go to the lengths taken to preserve, say, the Declaration of Independence, there are still great options available.

Archival Mist is a product carried in most scrapbooking stores. This spray is a fine, clear mist which coats any paper document and neutralizes the acid. I use it in my daily scrapbooks when I save items, such as a birthday card, not made specifically for scrapbooking.

Individual pockets, soldered from typical page protectors, can be created for any document you wish to protect, as well as handle. By making a pocket the size of a postcard sent home from a grandparents honeymoon trip and attaching it to the front of the scrapbook page you can see not just one side, but two. Proper pin-prick air holes continue to allow dangerous acids to escape from the postcard while the plastic protects it from fumbling fingers.

Most of us have saved snippets along the way. Whether it is your wedding announcement or a child's hospital band from birth, these artifacts will fade and fall apart. But at Designs of Mine, preserving memories is what we are all about!

Digi Grandma

Last week I told you about the treasure trove discovered in my grandparent's home. Boxes filled with family history, carefully kept for future generations.

Today I'd like to tell you what I am doing with it.

Photographs do not split well. Who has the right to Great-Grandma Laura's school portrait? One of her four children, her grand children, her great-grandchildren, or her great-great-grandchildren? To solve this problem I have hired a company to scan each of these precious photographs and turn them into digital files.

Digital photos, combined with the massive amount of historical information provided by Great-Grandma Henrick, will allow me to create scrapbooks for my entire family. A family tree, copies of memorabilia like the receipt for Grandpa Henrick's first car (a Chevy Roadster purchased in 1929, days before the stock market crash), the newspaper article of a family member "missing" only to be discovered hitching a ride on a train to travel to the next state to enlist in the army. All of these can be added to my computer files, uploaded to a printing service, and bound into a hardback book. At about $40-$50, depending on the type of cover chosen, anyone and everyone will be able to order a copy of this book.

So everyone can have a copy of the picture of my Grandma modeling her first bikini.

Roots

A few months ago my Grandpa passed away. As my Grandma preceded him in death, with this event came the task of sorting through their personal belongings. And oh, what treasures we found.

Albums from the 50's, 60's, and 70's, newspaper clippings of births, deaths, and marriages, aging wedding invitations, and, best of all, boxes of photos in old folders, some dating back to the late 1800's.

In six file folder boxes (you know, the kind from the 60's) are the portrait images of my great-great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other distant relations. As best as I can tell, the oldest is one of my grandpa's mother at about age 8. She is wearing a calico dress and pinafore, hair plaited in two braids, sitting with 40 or so other children in front of a school house. It may have been a two-room school, as the photo also contains two school masters, severe and demanding from the looks of it.

Also in the boxes are my Great-Grandma's collection of family history. I believe she started with her husband's family and traced back four generations to the Henrick family arriving in America from Alsace-Lorraine. It was fascinating reading, but even more interesting was her own paternal family tree, going back eleven generations to a family settling in the New World in the early 1700's. By the time the family tree arrives at the Revolutionary War, they are third generation Americans (or Britans. Whatever.).

And I cannot tell you how grateful I am. My family took the time to preserve their stories, their photos, their beliefs and faith, their history, and their records for me to see today.

What will you leave?

Type-B Scrapbooking

I am a type-A, left-brained, organizational junkie. I like order.

That being said I should tell you-- you don't have to scrapbook that way. There are no rules; you cannot scrapbook "wrong." So do it the way it works for you.

If it takes you months to find all the baby pictures you wish to preserve, whats wrong with ordering a few pages today from the pictures you just had developed? Pay for the pages as you organize the pictures, (which will allow you to fit the scrapbook into your monthly budget in pieces, rather than all at once) and just do it! You are not behind. You are not out of order. You are recording memories. And that means you have a scrapbook.

Choose a D-ring album (like a 3-ring binder) and slip the pages in where ever you wish. Isn't it better to have some pages, some stories, some pictures, preserved than none at all?

So go with what motivates you. Choose what you enjoy. I give you permission not to feel guilty about the rest.

Survey Says

I'm wondering, are there people out there who are interested in digital scrapbook albums? What about albums created digitally and printed out for viewing in a book?

If you have a comment-- leave it now!

Why Wait?

Stress-free scrapbooks have been our goal this month-- how am I doing? Last week we looked at ideas for adding more pictures with less cost.

Now I want to cover the "story." People scrapbook for a lot of reasons. And while "creative outlet" in certainly viable, most of us just want to capture memories. Whether you just want to document your life for yourself or you are passing a legacy on to your children, the idea is to tell a story.

So keep in mind that if you are doing that, you cannot scrapbook a "wrong" way.

But you can scrapbook in a more timely and cost effective way!

First, think about the story you wish to tell. I'm working on an album right now that covers childhood. Key points are, obviously, each grade in school, major family vacations, holiday traditions, and family members. Instead of scrapping every photo, we are working to choose just enough to tell the tale. For example, select photos from each grade go together on ONE two-page spread. An entire year of life in six pictures.

Because you probably don't need 20 albums to remember your childhood.

Here's another hint. If you have young children, start their scrapbook now. As the school year winds down, pick ten of your favorite photos and contact me. For less than $25 per year, you will have a 26 page album by the time your child is a Senior. So simple-- so doable!

What are you waiting for?

The Quest Continues

Happy Monday!

In our quest for simpler scrapbooks, last week we discussed not using every photo. But what if you really like them...

If you really like them-- scrap them! But just because you scrap them doesn't mean they need their own page. Here are some ideas for adding more photos to a single page or single spread (that's the two pages which face each other). The cost involved is minimal. To use these ideas your page will be classified as a level 3 (Check the website if you need clarification!), which does cost a bit more than the first two levels, but is still more bang for your buck than adding more pages!

First option: create a pocket behind the page. Add tabs to the tops of your photos and place them in the pocket. You can pull them out and look at them whenever you like!

Second option: choose wallet sized photos, or even use the index provided when you order pictures.

Third option: order a small album, such as an explosion or paper bag album to display lots of photos and still stay in budget. I did this for my son's first birthday and I love it!

Fourth: add photo pockets to your scrapbook. Simply slide 6 4x6 pictures next to a layout. This worked great for last year's Christmas pictures.

Until next time!

A Little Reminder

I posted this at Christmas, but as Easter is right around the corner, it bears repeating!

I wanted to post a few good reminders and tips!

First-- charge your batteries (or replace them) in the camera and camcorder. Nothing worse than a great event and a dead battery. (And yes, I know this from experience!)

Second-- take posed pictures in those cute Christmas -er, Easter--outfits early! It is easy to forget or plan to take them at the end of a get-together, but if you've got kids then I don't need to tell you-- the clothes will not look them same in an hour.

Also-- grab some shots of something a little different this year. I've been posting my holiday traditions, hoping to stir you to ideas of photos to take for yourself! So don't forget to snap a shot of your favorite ornament, the grand Christmas feast you created, or the reindeer slippers your toddler won't wear. (Make that Easter basket or darling gloves for a five year old)

And don't forget-- organize your photos as quickly as possible after the holiday season, especially if you have a digital camera and hundreds of photos. I like to organize by events, so I'll create a different folder for each of the family Christmases. You could organize by people featured in the photo or make files for each day or week.

New for this post I'll also add, take some with you in them! Figure out how to use your camera's timer or just had it to someone else for a while. Happy Easter!

Every Photo

Good morning Monday!

As promised, today I'll post the first in a series of ideas for making your scrapbook project more manageable. If you are like me (and millions of others!) you have enough pictures from your last trip to the park to create an entire scrapbook just for that occasion. And while trips to the park are fun, you probably don't need an album, nor do you wish to pay for one.

The solution? Get it out of your head that you need to scrapbook every photo! I've done this, quite happily I might add, for clients. But it is NOT NECESSARY! Instead, focus on your memory. Instead of choosing 24 pictures from the weekend at Grandma's, choose four of your favorite. Maybe one of the whole family, one of being in the backyard, and one on an outing, and another that is just adorable. When you see this one finished page you will be able to remember your trip just as well as if you had asked for six pages to hold each photo. Request a journaling block for your page and write a few notes to further capture the memories.

So what do you do with the rest of the pictures? Many of you use digital cameras, so store them on the computer (don't forget to back them up) and click through any time you like. My husband still prefers to look at the photos in an album, so I slip the extras into a simple book. Combined with the story told in the scrapbook, we can remember what was special about these photos and enjoy them there as well.

I hope that gets some wheels churning! See you next Monday!

Stress Free!

Bring me your shoebox full of photos, sure, sure. You've got four boxes. And some albums. It would take dozens of scrapbooks just to hold them all. Where would you begin?

As this seems to be a common hang-up on the way to organized scrapbook bliss, I've decided to run a series of suggestions for stress-free photos. My website provides the steps to having your scrapbook created for you, but this will be more about making the task manageable and afforadable.

So if you're interested, tune in each Monday! See you then!

Attn: Seniors

Graduation is will be here soon! Are you ready?

As you close this chapter of your life, consider how you will remember the past 4, 12, or 18 years. What was your story?

Designs of Mine can create a custom scrapbook to display at your graduation open house. Gather up senior photos, newspaper clippings, pics of friends, and anything else you'd like to remember forever and contact me for a free consultation.

On average a scrapbook requires at least two weeks for completion. Call today to make sure yours is ready for open house!

Cracker Crumbs

I saw a cute idea in a recent issue of a scrapbook magazine. As I frantically clean and cook for my expected company (all the way from Arizona) it's good to remember the important stuff. The idea I read suggested taking a picture of guests to your home and asking them to write a quick note about why they came. The creator of this idea didn't even add any embellishments or decoration of any kind. She just taped the photo onto pretty paper and slid it into one side of a small album and the note into the other side. Her very own "guest book" with no hassle at all.

And lots of warm memories-- which is what I should be thinking about instead of crumbs on the floor.

Luck of the Irish

We all have our quirks. Our idiosyncrasies. Our oddities. And St.Patrick's Day is one of mine. I know it's not Easter or New Year's; no one gives you any presents or sends cards. But I love it.

My name, of course, is Irish. Actually it's a kind of green even. And my birthday is the 19th, which makes it all fun. Spring begins to sneak up on you, somewhere around in here; you can plant potatoes and stuff now. I enjoyed teaching my kindergartners about leprechauns and spending a day out of the ordinary as we built "traps" to catch them in. I'm even looking forward to attempting to cook corned beef and cabbage this year.

And the point of me telling you all this is that these quirks, these idiosyncrasies, these oddities make us the people we are. So I'll snap a few pictures of my corned beef, but most important I plan to journal on my scrapbook page. I'll leave a story and tell something about me. Someday my kids will read it and learn about mom as a person instead of mom as a maid.

After all, stories are the reason I scrap. What's yours?

Variety

I love scrapbooks because they allow you to enjoy the pictures you've taken, instead of sitting around where no one ever sees them. Fortunatly, there are a lot of ways to share your pics! Picturetrail.com happens to be another favorite of mine. I can load my pics, create a slideshow, and post to my website, blog, or just about anywhere on the net.

So check it out and enjoy!

So You Know

The most common response to hearing about this company is: "Oh, it would take me years to sort through all the pictures I have!"

But that, my friends, is the whole point.

I want you to have your photos, displayed in such a way that you can enjoy them, with the least amount of work possible. That is why I will sort your stuff.

Yes, that's right. I will go through your shoe boxes, photo albums, even Rubbermaid tubs, and compile a scrapbook from the ground up. I am doing it right now. I have a photo box filled with unlabeled pictures. Judging from the haircuts, picture clues and occasional note on the back, I am creating a 30 page album.

So don't let that deter you!

Winter Dreary

The weather was so gorgeous the other day my little guy and I played outside for more than two hours! (And if you don't think that's a long time to do one thing, you haven't met my toddler.) Anyway, I grabbed some great shots, even with the dreary winter background. Thought I'd share some ideas with you.

For several shots I used an old shed on our property as background. It's prettier than dead trees, that's for sure. For other shots I put the camera almost on the ground (he's short...) and took the shots at an upward angle. Although people often look more flattering from an above angle, the outside light gives him great color, and hey, what can I say, he's just a good-looking kid, no matter which way I look at him : ). This angle gives me sky as background, which again, in nicer than the grass in this season!

In this shot I kept the shed as the background, but changed the camera's angle so you just don't notice all the leaves and such. Sure, they are there, but the focus in on my subject-- where it should be.

Well, there you have it. My two cents on taking pictures in February! I'll wish you great success with yours, but hurry. They are calling for snow.

Confetti!

Last week I posted a blog (I am a Scrapbooker) in which I published a 250 word reply to a writing challenge. Yesterday I discovered, to my own surprise, I won! My attempt at creative writing is now posted at Something She Wrote, along with some very thoughtful comments from Janna's usual readers.

All of which is somewhat ironic to me, because on the same day I wrote this response I also took a quiz posted on another of my favorite blogs, A Classic Housewife. I was unsurprised to learn that I am a very left brained person. (I scored 14 for left brain, 4 for right.) I love order, structure, routine, and guidelines. In fact, when there are no guidelines, I often create them for myself.

So what in the world am I doing in the middle of not one, but two, very creative fields? Scrapbooking and fictional writing?

Ya got me.

But at least you know I'll have your projects finished for you on time!

What Do You Say?

My grandfather passed away Thursday; today is his funeral. I wanted to make a card for Eunice, my step-grandma. She and Grandpa married after both lost their first spouses. What do you say to a person who must bury a second husband?

I don't know if any of these could convey what they are meant to express, but for lack of better words, here are some sympathy quotes I like best.


Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil. ~John Taylor

Life is eternal, and love is immortal,and death is only a horizon;and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. ~Rossiter Worthington Raymond

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. ~William Penn

When he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heav'n so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

If the future seems overwhelming, remember that it comes one moment at a time. ~Beth Mende Conny

You don't get over it, you just get through it. Your don't get by it, because you can't get around it. It doesn't 'get better'; it just gets different. Everyday... Grief puts on a new face.... ~Wendy Feireisen

know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. ~Leo Buscaglia

They say love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. ~William Penn

Preserving Everything

I'm actually doing it. A project I've meant to start for over two years now. I'm scrapbooking my childhood.

Obviously this is a BIG project. My basement stairs are covered in photo albums, sorority composites, grade cards, and hand-written stories from 5th grade. I keep finding more things in the depths of the space that is "under the stairs" and piling them up in overflowing mounds, just asking to be tripped over. I purchased the largest D-ring binder (think 3-ring) available, but I'm just not sure it's going to do the job.

I ran out of adhesive Wednesday, so I'm going to Hobby Lobby today to get more. At the rate I'm going I'll have over $50 worth of adhesive invested in this album. And so far I'm up to second grade...

But it will be worth it. The grand picture I have in my head is of something less "artistic" and more about preserving, well, everything. I'm using mostly 12x12 pages, with 8 1/2 x 11 page protectors for things like awards and drawings of people with no bodies. Scattered here and there are a few 8x8s and 6x6s tossed in to hold stuff like birthday cards and second grade journals.

I can't wait to show it to you!

I am a Scrapbooker...

not a writer. Just to be clear. But this, well, I just couldn't pass it up. My friend Janna posted a writing challenge on her blog, Something She Wrote. You'll need to check it out before going on or this won't make any sense. (Not that that would be unusual...)

So, as you can see, Janna has a 70 year old envelope addressed to Father Flanagan of Boys Town. And she has asked for a small story to accompany the letter. Like I said, I'm a scrapper, not a writer, but this project calls to the scrapper in me. It asks for a story to be preserved. And you know how I feel about that! So here goes.



Nellie sat against the wall, feeling the icy wind whistle through the cracks and seep under her worn sweater. In front of her were two girls, sisters, playing with a scrap of a doll. The oldest sister tied a handkerchief around the cloth body, hiding the many imperfections. Nellie lowered her eyes into her arms. She wasn’t old enough to know the words, but her heart knew it was hard to watch this small family.

Downstairs the front door hit the wall. A small commotion followed and then silence.

A moment, an hour later--time meant so little here--a woman walked through the girls’ dormitory. She held out a hand to Nellie and the girl took it silently. With soft footsteps the two made their way to Father Flanagan’s office.

Perched on the edge of a chair, hands clasped tightly in her lap, Nellie waited.

“Nellie,” Father said. “These are for you.” In his outstretched hand Nellie saw three small packages. Shyly, Nellie reached forward and took the candy. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You may go back and play now,” Father told her gently.

Nellie slid down till her toes touched the floor and scooted quickly from the room. Back inside the office the woman looked to Father Flanagan. “The letter?” she questioned. Father shook his head. “They cannot take her, poor dear.” The woman’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “Will you tell her?”

“Later,” Father replied. “For now, let her enjoy the chocolate.”

To Be or Not To Be?

I love scrapbooking. That much should be obvious. But some of you may not know I also love teaching. Anything really. I loved teaching kindergarten before my son was born. I love teaching classes at junior high church camp. I love teaching music to the preschoolers during Sunday School. Which brings me to the question:

Should I teach scrapbooking?

Several of you have asked if I do classes. Up till now the answer has always been no. But I'm thinking.

If you did take a scrapbooking class, what would you expect? Would you want to bring your own materials, or purchase them as part of the class? Would you want one long session, or a series of shorter classes? Are week nights better, or would weekends work for you?

I can't wait to hear from you!

Crunch Time

If it hasn't already occurred to you that the most romantic day of the year is only a week away, it will soon. The grocery store I frequent even has a countdown on a chalkboard right as you walk in. So it is officially "crunch time." And while cards and pictures are taken care of, there is still... THE GIFT. And ladies, what do you get a guy?

The radio has been full of commericals for things I'd love-- tulips or roses, earrings, even silky pj's that come in a hat box. One channel keeps giving away $150 good towards a maid service.

But there has not been one advertisement I am aware of with a good idea for what to get your guy.

So, here, complied from various websites, are my favorite ideas. And please-- tell me yours! It's so crunch time!

• Electronic accessories, i tunes gift certificate, or car charger
• Fav guy movies through the ages-- the Godfather, James Bond, ya know
• Upgrade his cable package with a sports network
• Personalized M&Ms
• Thoughtful notes tucked into his briefcase, coat pocket, desk drawer, driver's seat etc.
• Gift certificate for an experience he's always wanted like driving a NASCAR, ride in a rodeo, or attend master BBQ school
• Hide chocolate in small packages all over the house
• Create a music video with pictures of you together
• Cookie Bouquet

What are you doing?

Quotes

Since we've been on this subject (or at least I have been) today I'm posting quotes you might be able to use in a Valentine's Day card, scrapbook page, or note in your husband's coat pocket. Whatever works for you.



To live without loving is to not really live. ~ Moliere



Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. ~ Aristotle



If music be the food of love, play on. ~ William Shakespeare



A temporary insanity curable by marriage. ~ Ambrose Bierce



The love we give away is the only love we keep. ~Elbert Hubbard



To love is nothing.... to be loved is something... to love, and be loved is everything. ~Unknown



Life, the gift of nature

Love, the gift of life

A Kiss, the gift of Love. ~ Unknown



Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. ~Virgil



I love you more now....than when you beganto read this card



You're nothing short......of my everything



I love being loved by you



Happiness is being married to my best friend



When I count my blessings I count you twice

February

February! The month of truly exciting holidays like... Ground hog's Day! And great weather too. It might get, well... cool instead of cold!

Seriously, the best part it that it's only 28 days long!

So to add some cheer to my otherwise non-interesting morning, I'm putting all the Valentine's items on sale over at Designs of Mine.

Now that is something to be excited about!

Round Candy Bag

This is a personal favorite. I'm giving these to my family members with lot of love and chocolate! (Because those of you who read this blog regularly know how I feel about chocolate!) The one shown above is about 2 1/2 inches tall, but can be created in any size, but to about 4 1/2 inches. And here's the proof these will be well loved.

Kisses

I promised products made from the Valentine's Day kit, now available on my website. This is a lil' candy bag, cut with the Cricut "Platin School Days" cartridge and accented with red ribbon.

Purchase the kit and make your own, or order them ready made.

Think of how original your Valentine's could be this year!

Basic Grey

Even if you didn't, I have loved the cards I can now make with my new Cricut machine. Only problem was, I ran out of paper. So I went to the store. Crazy, I know.

Anyway, I came home with a bag full of envelopes (made with a die-cut compliments of Archivers) and a package of Basic Grey paper!

Basic Grey? you wonder.

Oh yes. My favorite product line.

Made even better by the fact that I have an angel policy with this company. That means I can create products, cards, pages, whatever without a contract from you, the customer.

Coming soon to the Designs of Mine website: Pre-made Basic Grey EVERYTHING...

New!

Oh fun stuff! I have a shipment of Valentine's Day materials just waiting to be crafted and created! Its a cute line of curly-cues and harts, hand-drawn flowers, and raised cardstock.

There are some other sheets as well, but the above is a kit I'm offering on my website, Designs of Mine. I spent some time creating from these papers and I'm excited to share some ideas with you soon!

So, if you've been thinking about those photos now you're ready to take it to the next level : ).

The Winner!

Congrats to Janna, who won the thank you cards give away hosted here last week! Janna will recieve four, hand-made cards created with a paper line called "della Fantasia" by the Paper Studio.

Like 'em? Head on over to Designs of Mine for some of your own!

For example

This morning I took some time and worked with a couple of photos of my own the way we discussed yesterday. (Nothing like practicing what you preach!) Here is my favorite!

Old photo:

New photo:

By cropping close and changing the color tones I have a brand new picture! One that's perfect for the inside of the card I'll make for my husband.

Ready or Not

The other day I went shopping for groceries. Already the stores are filled with pink and red harts, boxes of chocolate, and flowery cards. I am still recovering from Christmas!

However, if you plan to share your love with any hand-made item, now is definitely the time to begin. Coming soon will be a post with ideas for creating a card for your husband, children or any loved one, but today lets talk about one of my favorite subjects-- pictures!

Planning photos to take now will allow you time to create just the right set-up, as well as develop the film and still have time to make a card. But do you want just any old photo?

Think of things that make your relationship special, funny, memorable, personal, etc. Then decide on the best way to capture them. Grab a shot of a book you and your child enjoy reading together, the restaurant where hubby took you on your first date, you get the idea. Set up a tri-pod or get someone to take some of the two of you together. Choose a high resolution setting so you can crop. That will allow you to create an up-close picture of just your hands or a kiss. Or choose the humorous route. One of my favorite photos is of my husband standing in front of his truck with me pulling is arm, trying to get him away from it. (He didn't budge.)

It's not cheating to browse through the card aisle and get some ideas. You can even swipe a saying, if you can give credit.

Anyway, its something to think about. Valentine's Day will be here soon, ready or not!

Inspiration

Yesterday I shared a tip for scrapbooking when you have more photos than time. ( Designs of Mine: Organization)

Today, I'm going to leek another secret.

Scrapbooking is all about creativity-- but not all of it has to be yours. Some days, when I just need a jump start, I start with a sketch of photo layouts. These can be found in scrapbook magazines, at craft store websites, or at http://www.pagemaps.com/. I love these maps!

Change what you need, add where you want and have fun! Here are some of my favorite inspired by PageMaps.

Organization

If you're like me, you are probably still in the whole "working on my New Year's Resolutions" phase. Most Americans have quit working on them by Valentine's Day, but that is still four whole weeks away.

So, helpful person that I like to be, I'm posting tips for organizing your memories.

This funny looking page protector is actually 12"x12". It fits in your typical scrapbook. And it is the greatest way to quickly add charm to your memories.

For example, I have about a million Christmas photos. (Possibly a few less...) So, I can create a scrapbook page that showcases four or five of those photos and add that to my album. But what to do with the other 995,000? You could continue to create more pages, adding them three, or four at a time to a HUGE Christmas album. Or, you could place them in one of these fancy holders and insert next to the page you made. Viola! 12 pictures added to your scrapbook with no effort at all!

Or, if you'd like, you can "upgrade" using this spectacular page protector. Add a tag to a photo before you put slide it into a slot. Use one 4 x 6 space for your journaling. Staple a ribbon to the outside or add a few brads for interest. So much creativity... so little time!

So good luck with all that organizing! Now that I'm done with my scrapbooks I've got time to tackle the kitchen cabinets.

Or take a nap...

Free, free, free!

Today I made and mailed thank you cards for all the Christmas gifts my family received. (At least, I hope its all the gifts. If I missed you, let me know ; )

To celebrate the completion of this task, I'm giving away a set of four thank you cards FREE!

Leave a comment, link this post to your own blog, make a purchase from the Designs of Mine website, or do all three. Each will enter your name into the drawing. Also, please make sure to leave your e-mail so I can contact you!

Names and links must be posted by midnight, January 16th.

And thanks : )!

Done!

Last weekend I attended a 12 hour crop at Archiver's. It was so much fun! And even better, I used those 12 hours to completely finish all of my scrapbook pages for 2008! So as I begin my new year all of my photos are organized and saved on both my hard drive and flash drive, I've printed all the photos I want for pages and those pages are done! (And just think... I could do all of that for you ; )!

Happy 2009

Since I've raved so much about my new cricut and what it can do, I suppose I should show you! The letters and leaves on this layout were cut with my new toy!
Check out more cool pages in my gallery!

Also, since its the first day of the new year I want to let you know some of the things to be looking forward to!

Just Do It Discount: get 10% off in January as you complete that resolution to organize your photos!

Valentine's Day kits: Paper, embellishments, and ideas all ready to go in a simple package. Then you can have all the fun of creating without the confusion!

Memory Boxes: Keep your pictures and your trinkets in the same place!

And keep on the look-out for more craft fair, festivals, and shows!

Happy 2009!