Week 8

First of all...for my swap ladies who haven't completed all their swaps make sure you stay up to date and check this http://becomingmetoday.blogspot.com/2009/05/are-all-my-scrap-swappers-ready.html. Furthermore, I will be posting the next themes to finish out the rest of 2009....so check back soon, we've got some good things in the works!!

Okay...now to get down to business!! I had a great time in Poky...I finally got my actions for PSE figured out, and I am learning new things all the time for my Silhouette!! I have been using it tons to do my swap stuff and I am so in LUV with it-seriously it rocks now that I have gotten it figured out. I just got some inspiration for my next swap stuff by just talking about it!! I didn't do so hot last week with some of the stuff on my list, so I will try harder this week to stay on track!! Last week was super busy with prep work to go home, but I had a blast and it was totally worth it. I did a photoshoot that I am super excited about, I can't wait to fix those photo's!! I also have one coming up this weekend that I am doing a custom invitation for...super excited!! Anyways...

This week I will continue to:
*Workout for 5 days
*Stick to weight watchers
*Read my scriptures and a church article for 5 days
*Play with PSE...fix photos of nieces and nephews
*Finish up my handmade gifts
*Pack 2 tupperwares
*Make a couple layouts using my bird swap stuff
*Do something nice for Eric and one other person each day
*Organize scrap room....especially with all my new goodies!!!!
This week I will also:
*Organize all my swap stuff
*Start on my upcoming swap stuff

Week 7

Wow...okay, so today Eric went fishing. We were going to go workout when he got home, but then I thought it's so nice out maybe I will go on a bike ride over by my friend Shanoa's house. Well then Eric called me and said you should just ride your bike up to Soda Lake, which happens to be above Shonoa's house. I decided that maybe I should try, Eric said it was 6 miles to get there. Well, I got home and started over to Shanoa's house, but didn't stop and decided to keep going. I kept going so far in fact that it was too far to turn around. I wasn't quite sure how far away I was, so I kept going. It was uphill, and bumpy but oh so beautiful outside. It ended up being a great workout. My mind was swept away and even though I was worried I would miss Eric and Jim and then have to ride all the way back out, I made it and found them!! It ended up actually being just over 8 miles. I couldn't believe it!! I guess it just goes to show me that if I set my mind to it, I really can do anything!! So far I am not sore, but I am sure tomorrow my muscles will be screaming like banshee's. Okay, so anyways-last week went pretty well. I got more accomplished than before.
This week I will continue to:
*Workout for 5 days
*Stick to weight watchers
*Read my scriptures and a church article for 5 days
*Play with PSE...fix photos of nieces
*Finish up my handmade gifts
*Pack 2 boxes (even though we will not be moving as soon as we thought)
*Make a couple layouts using my bird swap stuff
*Do something nice for Eric and one other person each day
*Organize scrap room
This week I will also:
*Finish my swap items

Page Swap...Let's Make It A KIT

I was talking to Amber and we decided to go with my original thoughts on the page swap...we're going to make it as a kit! So...here's how it will work when August rolls around. It can still be any theme, but still needs to inlcude the things I listed before:
August: Every One's In KIT Swap!!
*******This is a theme of your choice, however, you will be making page layout KIT for everyone (9 people total-including you). We will only do this a couple times a year for every person so please make it creative and high quality. If you need ideas go to http://www.scrapjazz.com/, http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/, or any of the people under my inspirational blogs on my personal blog page http://www.lizandericoram.blogspot.com/. I chose to do this in the summer so you have lots of options (back to school, vacation, camping, summertime, swimming, ect), and so that we will all have time to get them done (and time to save for those of us on a monthly budget)!! Here are the stipulations:
1-This will be a 2 page layout KIT
-You must use each of the following (this is to ensure that each person's product is the same and based on what fundamental pieces make a good layout), but you can use more if you would like:
---high quality card stock
---pattern paper (doesn't have to be a whole piece)
---1 embellishment
---1 title
---1 journaling spot
---ribbon
---photomats (as many of as few as your design calls for-typically you make them in a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, 3 1/2 x 5 1/2, 2 1/2 x 2 1/2, ect. Whatever the photo size you just add 1/4 inch to each side-making it 1/2 inch total for each measurement {length x width}).

As an exapmle I made this today to show you all how it will work (just like I did when I worked at Kellie's). I also did pricing to show you all that it can be fun and relatively cheap-depending on what you choose to use!! First, I picked out what I wanted to use:
2 cardstock pieces for the background (.50/each)=$1.00
1 cardstock sheet for photomats=.50$
1 sheet pattern paper (this one was pricer {1.99/sheet}...but they're usually around .80/each)=so we'll say .40$ (instead of my .99$)
1 embellishment (3.99$ for 6 in a package)=.66$ (you could get this cheaper...probably around .50$ would be more accurate)
20 inches of ribbon (usually around 1.00/yard I think, but this one was like 2 I think)=so we'll say .55$ (instead of my $1.11)
Title=free (I used left over photomat scraps, a stamp I already had, and glitter I already had)
Journaling spot=free (I used a scrap of white paper that I had with a little piece of left-over ribbon)
SO...the total cost for this page was...$3.67 x 9=$33.03 for all 9 kits
BUT...you should be able to get cheaper stuff and do it for around...$2.95 x 9= 26.55 If you start saving now that would be like $.30/day!!

So...step by step this is what you will do:
1-pick out your stuff, get enough for 9 kits
2-cut any pieces that you need to-such as photomats (please ink them if you did for your layout) or if you are only giving them 1/2 sheet of pattern paper you will need to cut that as well. Please also cut your title...you can do multiple ones if you'd like so that they have something to pick from. You do not need to cut the ribbon, just provide enough to mimic your layout.
3-provide all the materials to mimic your layout with a photo of that layout, in a bag (you can get these at scrapbooking stores really cheap...or find your own elsewhere...you can also package everything in a baggie and attatch it to the paper, on the extra cut-off strip) (as for the photo you can print these on like 2 sheets of normal computer paper-they don't have to be fancy...just enough for us to get an idea of what we can do with the kit).

We're not putting these together so that everyone can use the product how they want to to fit their needs, however, we are putting all the pieces in pretty much ready to go so that if you want to make the kit the same as the designer it will be easy to do so. It will be very really similar to the kits you can buy at scrapbooking store, or like the ones that scrapbooking companies put together. I hope this clears it up for everyone and makes it easier for you to get them ready to go!!! Love for you all....I hope this gets your creative juices going!! If you have any questions let me know and I will get back to you ASAP. Please no one fret, as I said earlier there are lots of places to get ideas from and it will be relatively inexpensive (plus you'll be getting 8 kits for your $-who can beat that?). I can't wait to see what you all create!! Don't forget May: woodland creatures, June: flutterby's and posies, July: summertime celebrations. All due by the 1st of the month following-for example your woodland creatures need to be to me by June 6th.

Last Night...

Last night I got to scrapbook since Eric is out of town. I had been thinking about these two pages for awhile now, but they both morphed into something unexpected. I love when that happens!! I made the grey flower paper strip on my Silhouette machine...I love how it turned out!! I saw this wood and tree rub-on combo on an another person's layout, so I ordered it and have been thinking about using it ever since. It was nice to get out of my slump and actually get something accomplished!!

Week 6

Wow...week 6 already! I must say that all in all this has made me more productive, and more aware. I did update much last week on progress, but to no avail I did make a little, but once agian I still have much to accomplish. So for this week I will just continue with what I was doing last week and do a little catch-up!!
This week I will continue to:
*workout 5 out of 7 days
*eat healthy/do weight watchers/lose!!
*continue to work with my Silhouette and PSE
*finish up my remaining hand made gifts (only 2 to go)
*do something nice for Eric and 1 other person each day
*pack 2 boxes
*read my scriptures and 1 church article 5 out of 7 days
*organize my scrap room
*put away bill info
*fix the photos from this weekend
*scrap a couple pages using my new bird swap items

Are All My Scrap Swappers Ready????

The last swap went so well...I am excited to do another. We are still waiting for Amber's things that are somewhere in the mail...so you all should have 2 more cards coming!

Drum roll please....I have the next four months planned out-yea!!! Okay, here are the stipulations for participation:

1-You must have your stuff to me by the 1st Saturday of each month. I will get you things back to you no later than the 2nd Saturday of each month.

2-If you are not able to participate for a month you must let me know 1 month in advance.

3-All items must be high quality. They can be handmade or bought, but please make sure they are acid free, and made of high quality products. In other words...please put time and thought into what you send out, make sure it is something that you would want to use. (Everyone did great with this last month!)

4-You need to send a check for shipping your items back to you....made out to me.

5-Please follow the theme each month, be creative with it, ask if you have any questions, and make sure your items will ship well and in a cost effective manner.

So far for swappers I have:
Me

Amber Hoskins

Amber Hooten

Kira

DeDe

Leslee

Shanoa

Jerrica (starting in June)

Kristina

May: Woodland Creatures!!!

******Seriously I am so excited for this one, there are tons of great things out there right now!!! Think: Deer, Skunks, Beavers, Mushrooms, Squirrels, Rabbits, Mice, Ect. Please have at least 1 embellishment item per person...I believe it should be 9 people this month including yourself!

June: Flutterby's and Posies!!!

*******Thanks Mom for the suggestion! Think: Flowers, Trees, Butterfly's, Dragonfly's, ect! Please have at least 1 embellishment item per person....I believe it should be 9 again this month including yourself!

July: Summertime Celebrations!!!

*******Think: Popsicles, Ice cream cones, Cupcakes, Poolside fun (bikini's, sun-glasses, beach towels, pina colada's), Suns, Lemonade, Fireworks, Vacation/Beach stuff, Camping fun, Picnics, Bar-B-Q's, ect. Anything summery goes on this one!! Please have at least 1 embellishment item per person...I believe it should be 9 people this month including yourself!

August: Every One's In Page Swap!!

*******This is a theme of your choice, however, you will be making page layout for everyone (9 people total-including you). We will only do this a couple times a year for every person so please make it creative and high quality. If you need ideas go to http://www.scrapjazz.com/, http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/, or any of the people under my inspirational blogs on my personal blog page http://www.lizandericoram.blogspot.com/. I chose to do this in the summer so you have lots of options (back to school, vacation, camping, summertime, swimming, ect), and so that we will all have time to get them done (and time to save for those of us on a monthly budget)!! Here are the stipulations:

1-This will be a 2 page layout

2-You must use each of the following (this is to ensure that each person's product is the same and based on what fundamental pieces make a good layout), but you can use more if you would like:

---high quality card stock

---pattern paper (doesn't have to be a whole piece)

---1 embellishment

---1 title

---1 journaling spot

---ribbon

---photomats (as many of as few as your design calls for-typically you make them in a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, 4 1/2 x 6 1/2, 3 1/2 x 5 1/2, 2 1/2 x 2 1/2, ect. Whatever the photo size you just add 1/4 inch to each side-making it 1/2 inch total for each measurement {length x width}).

Also for any of you who would like to post what you have made with your birds, please e-mail them to me with any comments you would like posted at luvinlife2@juno.com and I will post them here for all of us to see (I know I talked about another blog....but what do you all think?)!! Happy creating to you all!!! Call me with any questions!!!!!! I can't wait to see what you have created with your birds (we all got such great stuff!!!), and what you will create for our upcoming months (Feel free to send me sneak peeks to post as well if you would like)!!!

Week 5

Last week was good, but busy!! I tried to accomplish too much I think!!! This week I plan to do quite a bit too, but I will actually have the weekend this time. Today's 1/2 day off really helped too! I was finally able to do my ironing that I have had since this summer, and put away the clothes that have been piling up for the last month! My Dad's b-day party went well...it was so good to see everyone and know that it is over and that it all went well! Anyways....
This week I will continue to:
*Do something active 5 out of 7 days
*Eat healthy/do my weight watchers
*Continue to work with my Silhouette and PSE
*Finish up my remaining hand made gifts
*Do something nice for Eric and 1 other person each day
*Pack 1 box
*Read my scriptures and 1 church article 5 out of 7 days
*Finish scrap room organization
*Put away bill info
I will also:
*Fix the photos from this weekend
*Scrap a couple pages using my new bird swap items
*Do something fun with Eric