This Post Brought to You by the letter...

photo by Leo Reynolds via flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

S as in...
Saturday... check out the gorgeous fall weather we had a mere 4 days ago...


and now we have Snow, lots and lots of SNOW...you can barely make out the path Tanner and I took on the am walk near the bottom of the picture, snow was up to my knees.



Sew, Sienna and Surprise

Yes I surprised myself by actually finishing the dress I gave you a peek of last week, in time for her to wear it for awhile on Saturday. I gave up on the reversible part, we'll save that for another day. Clearly it's a little big, but we made it work.



Sorry, couldn't find any forward facing shots that showed off the full dress. She's staring off into the pasture where there were horses just a few minutes ago. We took the trail specifically to go on a horsie hunt, hoping to see some horses in their pastures or if we got really lucky, someone riding along. We got our wish, not only did we happen upon some horses in a pasture, but our timing was perfect, the owner of the horses we looked at came out to the field to halter a horse as we were standing by the fence and he brought the horses over. S was in shock! It's one thing to see a horse in a book or out in the field, but standing right next to you is a whole other story.

Speaking of stories, here's the picture of her telling the story in her own toddler-ese as we made our way back down the trail...

Off to make the most of snow day number 2, laundry is going, dishwasher running, maybe I'll hit the scraproom.

Friday Fun

So way back at the beginning of the year, I set a goal to blog more often overall and bonus points(if you can give yourself bonus points, I'm thinking camera lens) if I blogged everyday for a full month. I made a run in February, but fell short by just a couple of days. Maybe May will be the month as I show off class projects...then again May is crazy so don't hold your breath. In the meantime here's the layout from the 3rd lesson of the Up and Running Class.


fun, fun, fun...hey mom(or anyone else who cares) you can click on the layout for a better look at S.

A quick layout

Can you handle a few more playground photos, I know they'll make my mom happy so the rest of you will just have to deal...

I love this photo, even though it violates all the photography rules about shooting into the sun, I think the silhoutte look is a nice change.

Look who didn't want to get out of the swing...

Speaking of grumpy kiddos, here's the layout I posted this week for the Scrapbook Destination blog sketch. I love this picture of Connor...

I can't believe it's 7:30 on Sunday night already and I still have laundry to do.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

Playground Fun

I spent a few hours on Thursday afternoon with Shelley, Sienna and the dogs at Chatfield and you know me I took a few (ok 80 or so) pictures. I'm still sorting through and dabbling a little bit with PS actions from the Pioneer Woman site. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the first batch.

You Wanted Woodland Creatures...

ok so maybe it was just MK who wanted woodland creatures...

Speaking of MK, she said she needed a product barfer on the DT, I thought I can do that...I know you may find it hard to believe, but once upon a time I used to be a product barfer stylewise. Somewhere between retail spots I migrated into my current linear, layered style.

since it's been a few years, I started surfing to find inspiration and boy did I...to get back in the groove I decided to 'case' this layout I found at the imaginisce website. I'm pretty sure I used all of the a sides of the papers in the line and a few of the b sides, it's pretty much an exact copy with a few extra creatures thrown in.

what's sad to me is that the imaginisce website didn't give the designer credit...now that's not right...if you know who's work this is please let me know no I can give proper credit.

Happy Friday!

The Wiki World

I'm continually fascinated by the wiki world, particularly the wikihows that pop up on my google home screen. Most of the time I don't actually click on the topic, but today I couldn't resist...How to Be Creative.

The author found this interesting video that made me think...



What?!? You mean I don't need every scrapbook supply ever created? This can't be right...then again I have been more productive(although not necessarily creative) in the newly purged room.

How about an altered project to show off this new creativity. We have had these Cosmo photo boxes sitting around the store for some time, I knew they would make something cool, just not sure exactly what so I set out to make a Valentiny project. I could only wish to have enough love notes to fill this box.

Supplies:

Photobox: Cosmo Cricket

Patterned Paper and letters: Pink Paislee

Flowers: Prima

Here's the rest of the article in case you need a jump start...

How to Be Creative

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Can creativity be taught? That’s a question without a simple yes or no answer. Creativity may not be able to be taught directly, but what you can get better at is frequently aligning the circumstances of life which foster the greatest chances for true creative expression. Creativity is not like a lightning strike, but more like something which manifests itself inside those who learn to foster it and create the right conditions for it to prosper.

Steps

1. Ruthlessly limit your selection of tools to only the most vital. The more limited your set of tools is, the more creative the output will be. Having a limited set of vital tools forces creativity and really challenges you to use what you have to produce the desired results. As a byproduct, you’ll get incredibly good with that small set of tools and refine your use of them to a point you can literally do anything you like with them. You’ll be far sharper than someone who merely dabbles with a larger set of tools. Learn how to be resourceful.
   


2. Don’t listen to feedback, keep following your own path. The problem with asking for feedback is invariably the feedback will be given infused with that person’s preconceived notions of what the outcome should be. Others will unconsciously push you in a direction that they see as best. This is done with good intentions; however, it actually hurts your internal creativity. Now this is different than sharing your work--by all means share, but listening to feedback is not a good decision if you want to truly find your own path of creative self-expression. Once you're finished with your creative work, whatever it may be, then you can listen to feedback. Just don't let criticism (even the constructive type) stifle your creativity during the creative process.
   
   
   
   
   • Keep in mind that people will generally display resistance to your idea, because good ideas change the existing dynamic, and people, for the most part, like things the way they are. When you present something that challenges the status quo, many people (friends, relatives, co-workers) will feel threatened.[1]
     
   
   


3. Having a routine is actually not a bad thing. Routines are positive if they reinforce a healthy, creative consciousness and negative if they destroy that. While breaking your routine once in a while to force new ways of thinking is good, what if growing/learning/experiencing new things was built into your routine as a given? The people who get stuck in a monotonous existence and speak negatively about routine have simply not developed a routine that puts them on a path of internal growth. The key is to discover creative rituals that put you in a more creative mindset.
   
   
   
   
   • Many writers not only have a minimum number of words they must write each day, but they also have almost superstitious requirements for the circumstances under which they write. The 18th century German writer Friedrich Schiller, for example, kept rotten apples at his desk and soaked his feet in a tub of ice water while he wrote![2]
     
   
   
   • Don't be afraid to seize control of your environment and make it work for you. Ray Bradbury wrote the book-burning story Fahrenheit 451 by leaving his house and writing in a library. Stephen King insists on utter silence while writing, while Harlan Ellison listens to high-volume classical music.
     
   
   
   • Set aside a block of time each day to foster your creativity. Kick the session off with a creative exercise or ritual that triggers a flexible state of mind. Whether it's meditating, freewriting, listening to a particular song, or rubbing your lucky rock--do whatever gets you "in the zone" and set a daily goal (e.g. one sketch per day, 1000 words a day, an invention or song a day).
     
   
   


4. Let go of perfectionism. Your natural output uninhibited by concern for creating something correct or incorrect will always produce creative results. There are limitless paths to achieve creative success; there are so many shades of gray. Imperfection is human, and sometimes the most creative artists leave mistakes unfixed on purpose. Nature itself is beautifully imperfect. Many try to be so perfect that they scrub away what made their work special in the first place. In a world saturated by overproduced, unnaturally perfect, and clean--the unpolished is the most creative and in many cases most inspirational.
   
   
   
   
   • Work on the "bad" ideas--even if you are only coming up with what you feel are "bad" ideas, you are still being creative, so develop them, and it could turn into a great solution!
     
   
   


5. Ignore trends. If you want to be truly creative, you absolutely must ignore trends. Block them out--pay zero attention to them. Trends are the polar opposite of creativity. In many forms of art (especially music) the masses of artists are following whatever the hot trends set forth are. Then there is the other, smaller group of artists that are pursuing their own path and not really paying attention to external trends in their form of art of choice. There is certainly more money, fame and instant notoriety for following trends, but most of what is popular is hardly creative. If you want to make something truly unique, trends are irrelevant. Looking inside yourself is where you will discover a greater wealth of creativity than available in any hot trend. Here are some more suggestions for insulating yourself from trends:
   
   
   
   
   • Don’t watch TV, don’t listen to the radio, and remove the vapid elements of popular culture from your life. These things aren’t bad for you in moderation, but they are great at normalizing your thoughts with the rest of society, and do not foster true internal creativity. Realize everything that you experience, every piece of content you consume plays a role in shaping your personality, even if at a subconscious level. It is all influence one way or another. You are in many ways a product of your experiences and stimulus. In one sentence, your creative output can be thought of simply as a personal interpretation of external stimulus. The best part about this is you get to control the input.
     
   
   
   • Don’t try and fit into a genre. Actively trying to fit your art or work into a genre is severely limiting and a detriment to its quality, if creativity is desired. Don’t try and write for a genre, don’t try to follow trends within a genre, in fact don’t even consider genre when working. Labeling it in a genre is a necessary evil for people to be able to find your work, and you will probably have to do this--but it shouldn’t be something that crosses your mind when trying to work. Genres, styles and methods don’t matter for creativity and originality.
     
   
   
   • Spend a lot of time alone. You don't have to be anti-social, but many people find their creativity really starts to open up when they are removed from others and able to have quiet focus for their creative work.
     
   
   


6. Ignore the past. Want to be really creative or original? Ignore or forget the past; ignore what the world has created up until this point. Sometimes considering the past will make you place a sort of unconscious time stamp on a style. That’s the antithesis of creativity and originality. Create things from within yourself that don’t draw inspiration from what has come previously or even consider it, and you’ll be on a path to creative output. In a creative state of mind, time doesn't exist--a few hours can feel like seconds, a moment can seem to last for hours, and you're completely immersed in the present.[3] Learn how to live in the moment.
   

The article goes on to list some interesting creativity exercises, I'll have to try at some point.

Happy creating!

Monday Quote

"The only time a woman really succeeds in changing a man is when he is a baby." -Natalie Wood

Speaking of babies, how about a layout with some classic 'baby in the tub' shots. This was for the Pub Ad and Journaler's Junction challenge in Pea Land. The challenge was to use a cliche in your journaling. I came across this when surfing for something to use. I wondered if the origin was simple as it seemed...

The essence of that phrase means to not throw out the good with the bad. But how did that phrase start?In the 1500's, a large metal tub was filled with water that had been drawn/carried and heated, then family bath time began.Bath time started with the man of the house, then the sons and any other men in the house. Then the women and children got their turn in the bath water, and lastly the babies were bathed. (Yes, all in the same water, Yuck).Because baths were only taken once a year, the water was so dirty by the time the babies were bathed, it would have been easy to lose someone in it. Hence the phrase, or saying, 'Don't throw the baby out with the bath water'.

Supplies: Everything is Making Memories except for my fav Rockstar font from QK.

Super Sunday

How did it get to be February? Seriously! January is such a busy month it just flies by. Thankfully I did manage to get the Christmas tree down last weekend, saving me from decorating it for Valentine's Day (aka Thanks for Reminding Me I'm Single Day which would make for an interesting tree no doubt)

Certain members of the fam are jazzed about the Steelers being in the Superbowl today. It's nice to see them excited, as for me I'm ready to move on and see what the future holds for my beloved Broncos.

Here's a new layout I made with the new line from Imaginisce...what's not to love about a line called twitterpated. Really! Check out the tongue action on this niece of mine...I can't tell you how many Christmas photos I have where the tongue is the star, that will surely be a page topic soon. For now we have the present section of the 1st birthday. See the sketch for this layout on the store blog

A couple of cards

It's early Saturday morning and I'm on a mission to get several of the crafty projects I finished recently, posted. I don't know why downloading and cropping the photos has seemed like a monumental task the past week, then again everything seemed a little more difficult this week.

This first card I like to call 'Ode to Inky Button'. I worked a class that the fabulous Angela taught last week on two of my favorite things, Bellas and Copics. She was kind enough to stamp a couple of images of girls I don't have so I could play with them at home. I set out to make an Angela-esque card with Cupcakeabella. While mine is not nearly as cute as hers, I think I worked in most of the Inky Button trademarks. Let's see...Bella? Check!, Ticket edges? Check! Bling? Check! Copic layering? Check! Embossing Folder? Check! Black Ribbon? Check although for true IB style it should be wider. Glassy Accents? Check!




Supplies:
Stamp: Cupcakeabella
Cardstock: Hammermill(White) Prism (Green) Bazzil (Pink)
Bling: Kaiser Craft
Other: Cuttlebug Embossing folders, QK scallop circle

This second card has quickly become one of my all time favorites. I designed it for the January Frenzy at the store, but of course forgot to post it here...or did I post, hmm I guess I should have checked before I started this post. C'est la vie.



Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned Paper: 'tres old' Tres Jolie, MME
Ribbon: AC
Other: QK Thank You Goosebumpz, Tim Holtz ruler --- I love, love, love this ruler... so I went to find a picture of this ruler in case you wanted to run out and get one and you needed a picture and found something even better...because I know how much we all love Tim, how about a demo from Tim himself.



Happy Saturday!

It's Garage Sale Time!

Today is the big day...I've packed all the crap and hope it moves on to deserving homes. The trick will be not taking home as much from the other sellers as I brought.

If you're a papercrafter in the Denver area, trust me you don't want to miss this sale. I had a sneak peek last night and there are some super bargains! 2.00 stampin up stamp sets---can't beat it. Stop by the store and get ready to shop.

86 Photos?!?

Yep, that's how many I downloaded from my little field trip to the Botanic Gardens yesterday. Don't worry, I didn't post all 86. Just a few of my favorites, it was a great opportunity to play with my camera settings and see how much I remember from my winter photography class.
In addition to the fabulous flora and fauna, the gardens are also having an art exhibit...Urban Nature. Amazing pieces of artwork created using spray paint.

Ok so maybe I posted more than a few, it was hard to choose...

I wish you could smell these pictures, the smell of lilacs was still lingering in the air, combined with the roses just starting to bloom...perfection, truly what I would imagine heaven to smell like. I really didn't want to leave, but after sitting and relaxing for an hour I didn't the next best thing...went to Whole foods and bought Peonies and Daisies to take home and sit on my nightstand as a reminder of a lovely day.

P.S. With this post, I set a new record for blogging in a year and it's only June... admittedly not a great record, but progress is progress...YAY me!

10 on Tuesday...10 things Denverites should know

On one of my late night blog surfing runs I came across a blog where a man was on a mission to take 100 pictures that would reflect the quintessential people and places of his town. (Santa Barbara, Ca I think.) I've been thinking about it for a few months and combined with overheard conversations about Denver celebrities and at least one person not knowing said celebrity, I think it's time to start compiling a list of things/people/places one should know if living in the Denver Metro(yes even us suburbians) area. Clearly my list is biased to my experience, but anxious to see what others add. As with all Tuesday lists number does not necessarily denote ranking...

1. John Elway...until the Broncos win another superbowl and it could be a looooooong wait John will be at the top of the list for sports celebrities. He makes my list because he was really the only thing consistent in my childhood/early adult life. It didn't matter whose house I was, Sundays meant the Broncos and John

2. Red Rocks...no better place in the country to see a live concert.

3. At least one current player or coach on every sports franchise. Take your pic,just know someone. My recommendations: Jay Cutler-Broncos, Allen Iverson-Nuggets, Joe Sakic-Avs, Clint Hurdle-Rockies Manager

4. City Park/Zoo/History Museum and the neighborhoods surrounding.

5. Botanic Gardens...I suppose you could loop this in with #4 but I was just there today and it was so beautiful it gets it's own number

6. City/County Building Hall

7. Art Museum

8. Your closest light rail station

9. Brown Palace Hotel

10. Performing Arts Complex

Now it's your turn...who, what, where would you add...