Five Things

5 Things That Are Just Plain Wrong

I've got pet peeves... just like everyone! And I need to tell you... these things are just plain wrong.

1. Automating DMs on Twitter. Wrong! You know I have issues with Twitter, but I've come to a kind of truce. I really enjoy Twitter's ability to let me gather input quickly from a variety of people, as well as the way it's a forum for the quirky little thoughts I have throughout the day. But one things I CANNOT STAND is the way people automate their direct messages (DMs) when I "follow" them. I find it insulting and intrusive. If you do this, please stop!

2. These shoes. Wrong! I'm sorry, but they're fugly. They look like you have an Ace bandage around your foot. I'm no fashion queen, but I know ugly when I see it. 

   

3. This woman. WRONG.

 

This versus Sandra Bullock? Whatever. 

4. Vajazzling. Wrong, wrong wrong! (And why is it "Vaj"azzling when it's nowhere near the vaj in question? On second thought, don't answer.)

5. The whole Joaquin Phoenix/Walk the Line/Oscars thing. Wrong! I know it's been five years, but I'm still bitter. He should have won. Period.

What about you? What's annoying you these days? Please tell me I'm not the only one with a bone to pick!

 
 

5 Sneak Peeks: The Story Matters

The Story Matters is gettin' ready to launch its April kit... and I was able to take some sneaky peekies to share with you before sending off my projects!

(It's so fun being on a design team!)

Five Non-Scrappy Blogs All Scrapbookers Must Follow

Yeah, yeah... you don't really "have" to do anything. But the title sounds better than "Five Blogs I Think Are Really Cool and Suggest You Take a Look At."

This will be part one of a series, because I have many more blogs to recommend to scrapbookers... but here are five to start:

1. A Creative Mint. The colors here just send me over the edge! And her photography... ooh la la! Tres jolie!

2. Dreamland. If you are looking for quotes to add to your pages, to make you cry, to save to your desktop... this is your spot. I have bookmarked virtually every post she's written. 

3. Craftypod. Sister Diane is just the coolest. She has a great variety of crafty posts, wonderful eBooks and courses, and some of the best tutorials on the web. Look to her for examples of writing how-tos. She makes it look easy!

4. One Ordinary Day. 'Cause a girl's gotta eat. 

5. Zakka Life. Crafty fabulousness.

More to come, my friends, more to come...

5 Sites for Great Scrapbook Sketches

To follow up on our talk about scraplifting... I thought I'd offer up five sites for awesome, free scrapbook layout sketches. Feel free to add your suggestions to the comments section!

1. Becky Higgins. I honestly don't know how legal this site is, but it offers up 74 of Ms. Higgins' sketches for your scrapping pleasure. 

2. Pagemaps. If Becky Higgins is the queen of the sketch, then Becky Fleck is the princess (what IS it with the Beckys, anyway? No wonder I can't get famous. I need to change my name!). I love that you can buy digi templates that match the month's sketches, too. What a great idea. 

3. Card Positioning Systems. I know, it's for cards. But I love this site! And you COULD adjust the sketches for pages. :) I think their design team just does an overall fabulous job and I love looking at the cards. It makes me happy. 

4. Ella Publishing. Ella recently ran a series of sketch challenges on their blog, with some fabulous results. Even though it's not a regular feature, stop by and check it out! And while you're over there, take a gander at Ella's sketches eBook, Stretch Your Sketches:

5. Pencillines. This is the newest site to me -- I'm not all that familiar with it, but when I was searching on Google for "scrapbook sketches" this was one of the most impressive links that came up! I know a lot of people swear by them, so definitely worth a look.

What about you? Where do you go for scrapbook sketches?

Does Scraplifting Suck?

You may remember that I wrote a series on scraplifting when I hosted for Write.Click.Scrapbook in January. I talked about how scraplifting is an awesome way to blast through scrapper's block, combat perfectionism and overwhelm, and in general get your scrapbooking jump-started. 

I still think that's true!

Today, Katie sent me a link to a blog post where blogger Jill says that "Scraplifting Sucks as a Roadblock Solution." Of course, everyone is entitled to her own opinion... but of course, I disagree! Jill's main point is (quoting):

• <<It doesn’t combat being overwhelmed by choice. You still have to choose a layout to scraplift. The sheer number of viewable layouts online and in magazines is utterly mind blowing. You could spend literally weeks sifting through layouts.
• It doesn’t address the issue of perfectionism. If you’re searching for the perfectlayout to scrap lift, you might not end up finding it. “That one looks good….hmmm but if I just keep looking I might just find a BETTER layout to scraplift”.
• It doesn’t discount the distraction factor. If I’m online searching for the perfect layout to scraplift, I might just forget what I’m doing for a moment, click on a link that looks interesting and end up reading about the earthquake devastation in Chile for the next two hours.>>

Well. Now.

Obviously it's not going to work if you don't use it. Just as the book "Flat Belly Diet!" is doing me absolutely no good sitting on my shelf if I don't actually READ and USE it. 

So I wrote the following response to Jill:

<<Hey there!

Thanks for bringing up this topic – I think it’s a valuable discussion to have.

We live in a world of abundance. We all have too much product, too many distractions, too many photos, too many ideas… and a lot of it is free or close to it!

I still maintain that scraplifting can help the issues you mentioned — overwhelm, distraction, perfectionism — if you put some rails on yourself. No solution is going to work on its own — it takes input and discipline from the user! Just as a diet won’t work if you don’t impose the calorie restrictions or follow the exercise suggestions, scraplifting (or any “system,” for that matter) won’t get you scrapbooking without some decisions:

1. OVERWHELM/PERFECTIONISM. Tell yourself you’ve got three minutes to find a layout to lift.

2. DISTRACTION. Don’t search online — I keep a binder full of ideas for pages, torn from magazines, so I can’t get distracted by checking links or going on an endless rabbit trail. Or limit yourself to ONE gallery, or ONE PAGE in ONE GALLERY, to find the layout you like. And promise yourself that you won’t follow any links until you finish your page!

If anyone needing this still needs more motivation or help, or has any questions, pop over to my blog! I’ll be glad to help you out. And consider joining us for the next round of Layout A Day in May. Creating a layout a day is a surefire way to blast through scrapper’s block.

One final thing — if you truly don’t feel like scrapbooking, give yourself a break! Scrapbooking isn’t a life sentence. It should be fun and enjoyable. But sometimes we all just need to get away and take a break so we can return with new energy and perspective.

Thanks again for bringing up this fantastic topic!>>

Now, what do you think? Have you tried scraplifting? Does it work for you? Why/why not?

Five Reasons I'm Already Excited about May's LOAD!

I know, I know... it's only the second week in March, so how can I be so excited already? Because we have TONS of fun and games planned for May's Layout a Day scrapbook challenge! Here's some of what you can look forward to:

1. A dedicated site! I'm in the process of developing a special blog just for LOAD. Stay tuned as I figure out how to best use this site to promote and host LOAD (it will be a work in progress, to be sure!).

2. A new theme. In May, we'll be working under the banner of "Define Your Style." We'll help you figure out what makes you YOU.

3. A cap on participation. Why is this a benefit? Because I'm making sure we keep LOAD a personal, special environment. As a result, you'll have the opportunity to really get to know your fellow LOADsters. LOAD is by far the most supportive group of scrapbookers on the web, and I want to maintain that intimacy and feeling of friendship! We can't do that in a 1000-person gallery. 

4. More tutorials! In February, we introduced weekly tutorials from some fab scrappers -- we'll have more in May, all focused on helping you define your style!

5. Videos and audios! As if you didn't get enough of me... Now, with my brand-new birthday Flip HD, I can record high-quality videos for you! I'll even take a shower! 

Stay tuned for alumni priority enrollment at the end of March.

Open registration begins 4/1!

Walking the the Labyrinth

 image from Di the Huntress

Callie's preschool is housed in the basement of the church, and in the church's garden is a stone labyrinth. Every day as we walk to school, we pass by this labyrinth -- it's hard to miss, as it's about 30 feet across! And every day, Callie asks if we can "do the maze."

And every morning, I say "No."

It's not that I don't want to "do the maze." It's not even that we're that rushed. It's simply that I've always wanted to walk the labyrinth, and I've always wanted it to be life-changing, special, transformative. And how could that possibly happen with a chatty five-year-old at my side?

But today, when Callie said, "Mama, can we do the maze?" I said no. Then I said yes.

I don't know what shifted, or why. But out of the blue I realized that I can keep saying "No" forever, in search of the perfect, the ideal, the fairy tale. Or I can say "Yes" and grab and enjoy what's right in front of me, right now. 

So we started out. "Follow the white," I told her, and she walked behind me, chanting. "Follow the white! Follow the white! Follow the white!"

The labyrinth is supposed to be an exercise in mindfulness, so I decided to tune in to what was happening right now, to the little traveler behind me, the sun shining down for the first time in what seems like months, the roughness of the stones. I especially tuned in to what she was saying. "Oh, we're getting close!" she said as we took a turn to the center. "Oh, no we aren't," she said in the same happy voice as we moved back toward the edge. "Follow the white! Follow the white!"

The labyrinth is a metaphor for life, for personal development, for seeking truth. It twists and turns and as you get closer, paradoxically, you're getting farther away, until at the last turn when you think you're headed right back to the beginning again, suddenly you're there. You're in the middle, and you can do a little bum-wiggling dance because you've made it. 

Today, by being mindful and saying "Yes," I got the gift of seeing this journey through my daughter's eyes. Was it the candlelit, meditative, slow walk that I had dreamed of? No, most certainly not. Was it a more accurate view of what my personal journey is like? Oh yeah, for sure. Because my days are not filled with solitude and peace -- my days are chaotic and crumpled at the edges with cracker crumbs and smudges from tiny, dirty hands. That's where I am, right now. And by saying "Yes" to taking that walk today, I said "Yes" to my life, just as it is -- not as I think it should be. 

Note: This is part of the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Post challenge!

 

The Story Matters Kit - March Scrapbook Projects!

Here's the big reveal of what I was working on furiously last month...

This Thanksgiving page is one of my recent faves. I spent a lickity-split second creating fringe for some texture, and foam adhesive was perfect for adding dimension.

 

Here's a little tag I made to welcome my dearie Jen to our house last month:

I pulled out my Slice to create the title on this page. LOVE that thing.

 

And this is one of those candid pics that is only great because of the story behind it... she was so DONE with Mom taking photos that she ran away. It was too funny!

There were so many fun things in this kit, and it made scrapbooking so easy! (I'm all about saving the time, babies!)

If you want your own kit, check out the sales page here. And make sure to swing by and see what the other designers have done! AMAZING!
  
 
  

5 Tips for Awesome Science Fair Projects

Last night we attended the annual science fair at my daughter's school. We were totally blown away -- there were over 125 participants in grads 2-5, and it was an optional event! We saw everything from experiments on magnetism, to what bubblegum blows the biggest bubble, to how to create electricity. 

My daughter did a project on air pressure. It was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself! (It helps if your dad is an engineer and your mom is a scrapbooker - not only do you get a cool experiment, you get a great poster!).

We had never taken part in a science fair before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. And since I am sure there are other parents out there wondering what the heck to do to help their kids create an amazing, yet simple, science fair project, I've put together the following five tips for those who want to stand out from the crowd, but whose parents aren't willing to spend a month of solid effort creating the project!

1. Skip the volcano project. Here's why: It's (A) a lot of work (B) messy and (C) not original. There were no less than seven volcano projects there last night! Even if your kid really, really wants to do the volcano project, and even if she does the whole thing herself, and even if it looks really, really, cool, it's got to be a big downer when she shows up at the big event and she's sitting in a row of six others with the exact same project. It's kind of like showing up at a movie premier wearing the same dress as someone else. Even if you looked pretty hot, you're not going to be able to avoid comparisons. 

2. Go for the flash factor. No matter what field of science your child would like to explore, there's going to be a project that won't put the judges (and the poor parents) to sleep. Want to do an experiment on geology? Why not simulate an earthquake? Taken with physics? Lightning is always a sure-fire (haha!) crowd-pleaser. 

3. Think outside the box. Just like with the volcano example, push your kids to go beyond the ordinary. If they're repeating a tried-and-true science fair experiment, can they dress it up somehow to make it more original? Costumes, props, video and audio are all relatively simple ways to make a classic project their own. Presentation counts!

4. Let them do it. Last night there were projects that were obviously concepted and created by a parent, not a kid. It does everyone a disservice if the parent gets too involved. We live close to MIT and Harvard (and about 5 zillion other colleges) so there is a high Ph.D.-per-square-mile rating. Some of the parents obviously saw this event as a chance to out-do the other geniuses in the crowd. No fun, no fun at all. And totally transparent. (No fourth-grader's Powerpoint skills are THAT good).

5. Have fun! Don't let your kid get stressed, and don't you get stressed out, either. The whole experience is about learning. If your child learns a little something he or she didn't know -- even if it's how to talk in front of a group -- then it's been a successful science fair. And if the experiment is a flop, that's okay, too. There's always next year!

And since I know you're dying to see it... here's Dr. Kinsey Ehmann:

March Check-In

 

It's decidedly lamb-like here in Massachusetts... hope that doesn't mean we're in for a flurry of storms throughout the rest of the month! I'm really, really ready for spring. My legs haven't been this white since I had mono for a month during my senior year in high school. I know, I know... not an attractive visual. 

LOAD* ended up on a huge high note -- over 3200 images in the gallery. That's 3200 scrapbooking pages completed, memories preserved, legacies of love. AMAZING! A huge round of applause to all LOAD participants... You rock! We've already started preparations for May's LOAD -- and I've got almost 20 people signed up already! Alumni invitations went out today (we were all in withdrawal and I had to do something!). 

If you aren't an alum from LOAD 2/10, don't worry - registration will begin in early April. I'll remind you! :) We are limiting the number of participants, so make sure to watch when registration opens up!

There are a lot more things I want to tell you about, but you'll have to hold tight for a bit longer. :) But here are five things to keep you busy:

• Listen to the Paperclipping Roundtable where we talk about tools (no, not THAT kind!)
• Check out the March gallery at Write.Click.Scrapbook
• Keep tuning in at The Story Matters for the March kit reveal
• Read one of my blog posts over at Parenting Squad
• Read this book, Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry. It's hilarious and educational. What else could you need?

*Layout a Day scrapbooking challenge