Wednesday, October 31, 2018

10/31/18 - Project Life Layouts Week 31 and 33

Happy Halloween! 
 
This is me, at work, attempting to be professional but still dress up for Halloween:


Dress Pants and Cover up w/ a Snoopy Mummy T-shirt
 
 

Okay, the actual reason for my post today is:
I finished a PL page last night so I decided I would share it along w/ the one before it that I haven't yet shared, in an attempt to keep up, LOL

So here they are:

-Week 31-
(Layout completed on the Project Life App and embellished IRL)


*Week 32  -  previously shared but trying to keep things in order
(Traditional Paper Collage-Style Layout)
See the original blog post here: Week 32



-Week 33-
(Traditional Paper Collage-Style Layout)
The "33" is actually pretty gold alphas/numbers
 
Starting w/ the top left and making a circle:
-Discovering I can still enjoy my favorite ice cream brand w/out guilt because they have a dairy free
line.
-Received an RAK stamp set in the mail, and used one of them on this layout (check out the cute piggy)!
-Not Dairy Free (bummer) but still tasty
-Discovered one of my husbands celebrity crushes is also a vegetarian (she's actually a vegan)
This made my husband laugh because he says our looks, body structure, and style are alike and now this discovery?! Yeah, we're the same person, LOL
 
Just a note:
For those who don't know I am a newly converted Vegetarian. I started thinking about converting when we adopted our piggy (nearly 4 years ago).
I gave up pork right then but slowly started transitioning to a more meatless lifestyle.
I became more strict w/ the transition at the beginning of this year and by August I was full Vegetarian.
I am also Semi-Vegan meaning I try really hard to stay away from animal food products but that's still a work in progress, which is why I'm excited about my favorite ice-cream brand having dairy-free versions of their flavors! 

That's all from me today.
Hope you have a fun and safe night!

Monday, October 29, 2018

10/29/18 - Goals for 2019 (Yes, Already)

Just checking in to say a few things...
First, it's almost the end of the year, wow!
I mean, really...WOW!

Realizing this is what lead me to write this blog post.
I'm already starting to think about next year and my goals...
Is there really a need to wait until "the New Year" to make goals?
I don't think so though I do feel like it would be better to implement them in the new year.

This is what is running through my mind currently:

1) I want to do Project Life in 2019.
Though at times frustrating, I did enjoy doing Project Life this year.
I like having a fairly up-to-date, more complete, look at my year.
Even though the year hasn't come to an end, I already enjoy looking through my almost completed album.
This was my first year and I learned a lot about the process in general and what I like and what works for me.
Also I would like to share my layouts more regularly on here.
I realized that though I am mostly up-to-date on my pages, I have shared less than half of them here.

I haven't decide 100% my plan of action for next year but the gears are turning!


2) OLW - Well, I picked one and I feel like I "lived" it...
But  as far as a project goes, it's not a "project" for me.
I will choose another word next year (or let it choose me) and I will make a page about it, but as far as any other pages about that same word, I just don't find the concept interesting enough to complete an entire album.
Instead, at the beginning of each year, I will complete a page about my word.
And hopefully at the end of the album I will have a page for every year I choose a word.
This way I have documentation of every OLW I have chosen over the years (like what you do w/ your tags, Cindy!)

3) I will respond more to comments left on my blog.
I never did it before because I didn't know if people actually checked back...
and then because I didn't do it I felt like I was rude for not doing it... LOL
I started responding w/in the last couple of months.
Not to every comment, but those I felt needed a response or were more "conversational" in nature
W/ that being said, I'd like to take a poll:
- (In general) Do you ever check back to see if there is a response to your Blog Comments?


4) I realized that despite my title of "Art, Books, and Randomness" I never once discussed books this year on this blog!
I keep track of my books on Instagram, but not here!
I am trying to think of a way to include reading in my blog next year...either that or change my content description, LOL
BTW - as of this post I have read 20 books this year.

Have you started thinking about your goals for next year, scrappy or otherwise?
If so I'd love to know about them, if you're ready to share!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

10/21/18 - CKC October/ Projects #3 and #4

Hi there!
2 more projects from my Counterfeit Challenge Blog October kit
(projects #3 and #4)
 
 
My first page is a 12x12 Traditional Layout
 
  
"Void"
Journaling: "Void: a Star Wars themed Virtual Reality experience. David really wanted to try it! I was afraid to try it because I'm not any good at video games but it was a lot of fun!"

This is part of my 4 page spread covering our visit to Vegas this past July; this is page 3 of 4.

My favorite things about this layout:
1) the color scheme...
2) the cluster of embellishments around the bottom photo
3) the inclusion of our bracelets... I'm trying to remember to save and include ephemera in my layouts more often

.
.
.
.

My second project is a 2-page Travelers Notebook layout for my Pet Themed album.


"Hello Happy"
Journaling: "Hamlet enjoying a yummy apple. Nobody tell him what usually happens to pigs who get whole apples. 03.31.17"

I'm also entering this layout into the "Dotty About Dots" Challenge  over at The Studio Challenge blog seeing as both my PPs have dots on them!

All of the paper pieces on the TN Spread are scraps, including the "Hello Happy" which is from a cut-apart paper that I had already cut into.
That sticker border under the photo is a scrap also.
In my "Void" layout you will see a green butterfly and a circle word sticker: "cherish" (and the other half of the border sticker).
Those came from the same sticker sheet that I got the border sticker from...and it is an old sticker sheet that I bought in May 2016.
So glad I included it in my kit this month!

For having such a shaky start to this month, I feel like I'm accomplishing a lot w/ my kit!

Sunday, October 21, 2018

10/22/18 - "Use Your Stuff" Challenge #335


At "Use Your Stuff" this week we are challenging you to be inspired by this Mood Board:



For me, it wasn't much of a Challenge ::wink::

Any guesses what I was inspired to create?
.
.
.
Yup, you guessed it...
.
.
.


"You Had Me at Pumpkin Spice"
 
Journaling: This shirt is 3 years old and still my favorite shirt ever! It is a tank top though, so sometimes I gotta layer in order to wear it, like today. IDK why @ Target insists on making their Fall Themed shirts into tank tops, I mean in CA, I guess it's okay but they sell these shirts in other states too.
Speaking of Pumpkin Spice I had a Pumpkin Spice Margarita at @ Chilis today; its their $5 Flavor of the Month Margarita.
My husband's Bloody Mary's was also $5.
If you didn't know, now you know!
10/07/18

I have scrapped this shirt every year since I bought it 3 years ago...
and I do believe I use the same title or something very similar to it each time.
And surprisingly it doesn't bother me!
Now I feel like maybe it's a tradition I need to carry on.

A bit of notable info:
- the BG paper is older than my (16 year old) daughter
- I used my Big Shot to cut out the scalloped circles; only the second time ever using it despite having bought it over 2 years ago
- I used a light black mist on the BG paper; another item I've had for years and have hardly used

I'm really trying to live up to the "Use Your Stuff" theme!

The journaling was done on the PL App and printed out on photo paper.
Other than that it's just a mish-mash of Fall-ish items, or as I like to refer to it... "use all the Fall things!" LOL

Don't forget this challenge is open until Saturday.

Thursday, October 18, 2018

10/18/18 - Project Life Week 30

On Monday I shared PL Page #32
Today I am sharing w/ you my Project Life Week #30
It is actually a 2 pager
-One Pocket Page Style (though digital)
-and One Traditional Layout
 
 
Project Life Week 30

I created this layout in the Project Life App and embellished it just slightly:
-2 stickers
-2 buttons
-Doodling (though the white circles around my Oreos was done on the app)
Though I love embellishing my digital pages w/ real-life embellishments, I didn't feel like this one needed too much.


Oh, and yes, it's ALL about food, LOL
And as I explained in my journaling (in the "Enjoy Life" section)... I'm only slightly embarrassed about it ::wink::


Also, if you read the journaling about my pancakes, you'll see that I mentioned "my traumatic morning".
What was so traumatic?
Well, the answer to that is in my 2nd page which completes my 2 page spread:


"Hamlet's First Hoof and Tusk Trimming"

I created the journaling block in the Project Life App and printed it out on regular paper.
I misjudged the size a bit … with all my experience, why didn't I realize how big a 4x6 would be, hahaha?!
But it's all good... I like the way the large Gray and White journaling block help balances out the "No, No, No Nope" Studio Calico Project Life card.

And, I just noticed...  without even planning it, the 2 pages actually match each other pretty well!

That's all from me today...
TFSB!

Sunday, October 14, 2018

10/15/18 - "Use Your Stuff" Challenge #334


Today is the start of a new week (well I guess technically yesterday was) and a new challenge is up at "Use Your Stuff" .
The challenge this week is enamel dots.
IDK about you but I love enamel dots!!
I actually use them quite often.
 
This is how I used them for this challenge:



"Project Life Week 32"

A collage style Project Life Page that includes 6 Enamel Dots.

This is the week I found out that Starbucks was no longer serving their "Skinny-Recipe" drinks.
Hence the "that totally stinks" Simple Stories sticker.

Did you notice I used 3 different patterned washi tapes?
Each matches the topic of the photo I placed it on.
Which is awesome because I have so much washi I need to use!

For those who are new to my blog:
- The food is my August Box from my monthly subscription to Snack Nation. I receive a box of 6 snacks each month for $1 (+2.99 S&H)… so 6 snacks for $3.99.
Each month's box is different and I have tried a lot of new food items because of this; lots of new food items I have absolutely loved! Also I have priced a lot of the food items in stores and let me tell you I am getting a great deal! December will be my 1 year anniversary w/ them.

-Book 17 refers to the amount of books I've read this year...
My goal is 25.
I am currently reading book #20...so close!


BTW  - Much like my Project Life Layouts are not necessarily created in order, neither is my sharing of those pages...
so stay tuned for Project Life Pages for weeks prior to this one!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll play along!

Saturday, October 13, 2018

10/13/18 - CKC October / Projects #1 and #2

My first 2 Projects using my October Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog kit
 
Both are 12x12 Traditional Pocket Pages:
 
 
 
"Happy 16th Anniversary"


This is about our dinner out at "Pasiano's Italian Restaurant" at the Pechanga Casino in Temecula last year for our anniversary.
This was our first visit to both.
(This was BEFORE I became a vegetarian and when I had blonde hair)
 
That Green Heart paper is from Nikki SIvils and has been in my stash for a long time!
Glad to have found a place for it... and I still have scraps of it to use since I only used a portion of it for the pocket.
I really like using papers for my pockets! 
 
And yes I realize I spelled "anniversary" wrong … LOL
Luckily it's just stickers so I can fix it!
 
 
 


"Truly Madly Sweetly"

Also a first for us: a visit to the "Truly, Madly, Sweetly" Bakery in the Temecula Mall.
We had spent the night in Temecula and visited this place the next day.
My husband loves ice-cream and I love... EVERYTHING else, LOL
so we ordered a few different items and shared them because, "sharing is caring"
::wink::

Another old item/items I want to highlight is that "SWEET" PL card, which has been in my stash...probably since Project Life became "a thing"! The heart is cut out of a PL Card from the same set.


And just for fun-sies let me share  a layout I created last year about this same night...
-some of you may have seen it already -
*NOT created w/ my Counterfeit Kit*

 
Not a bad start I think.
I've been feeling a bit more productive, and like myself lately... ::crossing my fingers:: it continues!


Wednesday, October 10, 2018

10/10/18 - CKC October Kit Reveal

October has been a rough month for me so far!
Nothing specifically bad, I just can't seem to focus...
I'm thinking it was that darn vacation...LOL

Hopefully, it's just temporary as my brain tends to do that every once in a while, a huge side effect from be a sufferer of both depression and anxiety #TruthBomb

Anyway, because of my lack of focus I am a bit behind in getting my Counterfeit Challenge Blog Kit put together for the month.
I like to have it done by the first weekend of the month so I can get scrappin'



Here is the inspiration:







And this is what I came up with (you may recognize some of this stuff from last month):













What I pulled from the inspiration:

- Papers (14 total)
  • Flowers
I have 2 flower paper: white BG with large colorful flowers and dark blue BG with small red, light blue, white, and yellow flowers (top row, far right)
  • Pink
I have 2 of those: one with stars and one, a darker shade of pink, with polka dots
  • Green
Mine has brown hearts on it
  • Words
I have 2 of those: one Fall Themed and one Colorful/Everyday themed (the emoji paper)
  • Stripes
The Green/Yellow/White Paper - could also fall into the Green Category
  • Cut Aparts  
I have 2 sets: a Fall Themed set and Colorful/ Everyday set
  • Colorful Multiple Patterned BGs
Everything else, LOL

BTW - I was going to include a wood grain but forgot ::DOH::!


- Embellishments:
  • Black and White (square/rectangle) medium and small Letter Stickers
  • Word Phrases - though mine are black
  • Frames
  • PL Cards - to mimic the words w/in the frames embellishments
  • Lots of brown
  • Buttons - to mimic the sequins because I cannot work w/ sequins, LOL

What I added to play w/:
  • A few sheets of misc, partly used, embellishments and alphas - gotta use that stash!
  • Scraps - always try to include some of these
  • Gold Thickers - cuz currently obsessed
  • Washi - because I have so much I need to use
  • Cat, Dog, Pig papers and embellishments - cuz, you know, fur-babies/hair-kid ::wink::
-1 is a cut-apart, most are colorful
  • 1 Brand New un-opened package of MAMBI stickers -I want to see how much of it I can use
  • Date Stamp and Ink
  • Black Mist - I always try to use it but never do...maybe this month will be the month ::crosses fingers::

Added Essentials (though I didn't photograph them):
  • Black, White and Kraft card stock
  • Black Sharpie
  • White Gel Pen
  • Circle Punch and Template
  • File Labels - for journaling
  • Adhesive
  • The Project Life App

My goal was to mimic the colorfulness of the inspiration kit but also bring in a few darker colors and embellishments because if the fact that it's currently Fall (hence Fall-ish papers and embellishments). I will probably use up a lot of those colorful items but I wanted to have a bit of wiggle room...

BTW - sorry about the bad photos.
The lighting was bad but I knew if I didn't take the photos while I had everything out, I would procrastinate in taking the photos...
I think the only things I do not like about playing along w/ this challenge is trying to get good photos of my kit and having to put away whatever I don't use after the fact, LOL

Monday, October 8, 2018

10/08/18 - "Use Your Stuff" Challenge #333


My first DT Project for the "Use Your Stuff" blog!

The theme this week is: "Autumn/Halloween"...
   pretty easy huh?!

The challenge is live now...
     so stop on by and play along!

Here's what I was inspired to create, going more in the "Halloween" direction:


"Halloween Horror Nights"
A Pocket Page of my husband and daughter at Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights, last month.

Journaling:
"David and Madison went to Universal Horror Nights. I stayed home because I don't like being scared! They had a blast! Their favorite part was the 'Poltergeist' Maze.
...
"It was Madison's 1st time so we splurged for front of the line passes"
-Sept 21, 2018

I had a lot of fun mixing up different types of embellishments, including actual ephemera from that night: the yellow wrist band and the title, which was cut out of the brochure.
I was going for a collage effect w/ my Title pocket.
Besides the ephemera, I added this to the Title card:
  • a piece of washi
  • a button
  • a chipboard sticker
  • a (date) stamp
  • alphas
  • a "day-of-the-week" post-it / came from a pack I bought at the $1 spot at Target
  • a see-thru/orange self-adhesive enamel circle
  • and a furry 3-D self-adhesive spider embellishment.
I added 2 more of those enamel circles and spiders to the lower half of my layout to create a visual triangle.
Most of the items on this layout have been in my stash for many years...but the winner of the "Oldest Item Award" goes to that polka-dot PP;  it's older than my (16-year-old) daughter!!

I absolutely love this page!
And the seal of approval came from my husband in the form of this comment: "Very Festive!"
LOL
I don't have a lot of Halloween-type embellishments or papers so it was a huge compliment, even though he didn't know it! ::wink::

Saturday, October 6, 2018

10/06/18 - CKC September/Project #7

 
Just sharing a fun little Fall Themed Page I recently created.
It is a 12x12 Digital/Traditional Hybrid Layout
 - created on the Project Life App and embellished w/ doodling and stickers
(the white doodle-y circle on the top middle photo was done on the app).
 
I really enjoy making these hybrid pages!
 
 
"Fall Fun/Too Soon?"
 
Lots of journaling, all of which I think can be read w/out my having to re-type.
 
BTW - all the embellishments I added to this layout are from my September Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog kit.
So I wound up completing 7 layouts w/ the kit... even if it did take me a couple of days into October to do it 
#StillCounts LOL
 
TFSB!

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

10/02/18 - Newest UYS Design Team Member

Hi!
I've been gone for the past 6 days; having just returned from my Boston/Maine vacation late last night.
I'm at work...  feeling exhausted and "fluffy" and just hatin' life right now... LOL
But I do have some fun news to share:

I'm the newest Team Member for "Use Your Stuff"!





I've really been missing being on a Design Team since the blog I last was involved with went on an undetermined hiatus back in November of 2017.

I'm excited to join this group of ladies, two of whom I have had the pleasure of "knowing"/interacting w/ even before I joined the team!
(Ladies, you know who you are ::wink::!)

What is the "Use Your Stuff" blog?
Well, pretty sure the title is self-explanatory but here's the official description:

"Welcome to Use Your Stuff
Grab that paper you've been saving, the embellishments that you had to have, the stamps that are too pretty to get "dirty" with ink or the alphabet collection that has grown too big for that drawer. Use Your Stuff!
We know you've got stuff stashed and it's Okay to admit it, this is a safe place. We have them too.
We invite you to join us."

 Right up my scrappy alley, eh?!

We offer 4 challenges a month, each challenge presented on Monday w/ each challenge open for entries until 6pm on the following Saturday.

Check out the welcome post here: UYS - New Member

And I hope to see you play along some time!

03/27/23 Planning with Urban Journal Season Ink

My printer was having issues and I fixed it but during the interim I was not scrapping and lost my mojo ::le sigh:: But I've still been ...