Create & Inspire

Back at it!

I have been so busy that my time to scrapbook got put on hold. It is with great delight that I am now able to get back to it. I started by scrapbooking my birthday weekend from last February (that's how far behind I am). After putting the album together I had left over materials, so I created gift tags. These will get me through the birthdays I have this summer and because they are primary colors can work for boys or girls. I'll post pics of them this weekend.

GHS Art Show

This week was the Student Art Show at Glendora High School. I love seeing so much talent in the students. It is amazing to see them begin as freshman who are unsure about creating art and grow into talented artists. Glendora High School has this year had 4 students awarded full summer scholarships to Laguna College of Art and Design, a student accepted into Art Center, 4 students participating in the Rhyman Arts Program on USC's campus, a student who won $1,000 from EVAA, and a student who got an Honorable Mention in the Congressional Student Art Contest. While this is all going on, the Visual and Performing Arts Staff is hard at work finalizing a Fine Arts Academy on Glendora's campus for the new school year. It's great to see the students with a passion for something other than TV and video games.

Baby Shower Party Favor

Recently I gave my sister-in-law a baby shower and I needed party gifts for the guests. I decided to make it cute, functional, and definitely incorporate some scrapbooking. I used a 12x12 piece of double-sided paper to make the file folder. I stamped 2 different images onto the cards I used as inserts. Using the Cricut machine I cut out monograms for each guest first name. It was a quick and easy party gift. Here is a peek at the inside.

What to pack?

Most people know that I am obsessive when it comes to planning. As such, I have already been planning what to pack for my trip to New York in a few weeks. I always find packing such a daunting task. On my last trip my luggage was lost for 2 days and I had to purchase new toiletries and underwear just to be able to get through those couple of days. Needless to say I am planning on only taking carry-on luggage on my 5 day trip to New York. So now the task of packing less and only what is necessary lies ahead of me. It's time to get online and check the forecast, will it be cold or freezing? Will all of my toiletries fit in my gallon size plastic bag and each be less than 2.0 oz.? Do I take my video camera in addition to my digital camera? Although it's exciting to take a trip, it also seems like a lot of work. I guess that is what happens when you a an obsessive planner? At least I'll have lots of photos to scrapbook when I get back, which opens up a whole new can of worms in "what do I scrapbook from the trip?" But that is for another day and another blog.

New Layout Sneak Peek

I am back to scrapbooking (finally)! I worked all week on new layouts. It was great! I turned in 3 new layouts to SGT for their displays. Here is a sneak peek at one of the layouts. I used paper from 3 Bugs In A Rug, felt flowers also from 3 Bugs In A Rug, "remember" stamp by Heidi Swapp, and of course bling. You'll have to visit the store if you want to see the whole layout. Hee! Hee!

When will this end?

I recently saw the specialist for my wrist. Finally 2 months after the accident I am seeing a specialist. He said that my accident caused tendonitis in my wrist. So he put me back in the awful brace for another 2 weeks, then he will re-evaluate. This is killing me. I have trouble scrapbooking and doing just about anything that requires my hand. I can't wait to have this whole thing behind me!

Remembering 2008

I decided to get a head start on scrapbooking this new year. I spent most of my day yesterday putting together a book "Remembering 2008". The idea was to create one page for each month of the year. Now that I have a page for each month I don't feel pressured to get something done for every month that passes. I have the opportunity to select a photo or two from the most exciting or memorable event of the month and document it here. A variety of products were used, from paper to die cuts, but one of my favorites was the Heidi Swapp Month Stamps. They look incredibly cool! Here is a peek at my December page. I encourage everyone to plan ahead this year and see what amazing things we can come up with.

The Great Re-organization!

Now that the holidays are over, my husband and I have been tackling the "Great Re-organization!" What a mess! Although you would never know by coming to my house, I have a lot of junk. I have cupboards and closets overflowing. Yesterday I spent the day taking down my Christmas decorations. Today I began cleaning my bedroom closet. What a nightmare! My husband said that he had no idea how any of my stuff fit in my closet, there was just sooooooo much. Anyway, I plan to tackle the scrapbooking room this month. I need to organize my space and make it more efficient. At this point I keep buying more supplies because I don't know what I have. When I'm done, I'll post pictures of before and after. You'll be amazed! So here's to getting organized and having a plan to stay that way!

Happy New Year 2008!

Well it's the start of a new year... I am just coming up for air! My husband and I spent New Year's Eve in Hollywood at a private party at the Velvet Margarita. For those of you who don't know it is one of the coolest places to be in Hollywood. The owners, Ava and Carlos, personally invited us to spend the evening rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. Many well known actors and actresses rang in the New Year with us. It was a blast! We had a fabulous dinner, champagne, and great music all evening. We finally collapsed into bed January 1st somewhere around 4:00AM. It took several days to recover from staying up basically all night. Now that I am awake and ready to begin the New Year I wish you all the happiness you seek in this wonderful 2008 year!

Harry Potter

Recently I have gotten hooked on Harry Potter. Let me just say, WOW!!!! I originally dismissed this as a children's book, but boy was I wrong! My sister-in-law is nuts for Harry Potter and she's in her 20's, so I thought I'd give it a shot being the avid reader that I am. Just one chapter into Year 1 and I was hooked. I have become the ultimate Harry Potter nerd. I asked for a Harry Potter scarf for Christmas and the book version, not the movie version (YES, there is a difference). I also asked for the set in the collector's box. I decided to go out and buy the set of movies. I am addicted. I made the decision to make a felted one of a kind Harry Potter bag for my sister-in-law for Christmas. It of course has the Gryffindor logo on it (is there any other?). Anyway, since I put so much time and effort into this obsession I thought I'd share with you some of the pics of my sister-in-law with her new bag.