MAD Monday - Take 4

*MAD Monday stands for "Make a Dent" Monday... every Monday I try to "Make a Dent" by scrapping my scrapbooking supplies that have been hoarded, and have thus been sitting around looking pretty, but not being used. Solution. A regular feature that forces me to use my stash!

OK, so it is usually Monday EVENING now that I "make a dent"... but that's OK.

This time, I used my Studio Calico kit... the current kit.
I am not sure why the song "Baby, Don't Treat Me Bad" came into my head, and influenced this layout title... and why I went this direction with this layout.

As my daughter heals AND I deal with family trials that make me realize I too have had a heck of a start, I take this moment to pause on how much I can relate to my daughter. We were both adopted... she was an orphan for 2 years. I was abandoned first by my birth mother, then my adoptive mother in my teens... it doesn't hurt less because I am over 40.
I miss having a mother I can talk to regularly, who loves me unconditionally. I love my father. He has stood by me. He does loved me unconditionally... most days. He is SO hard on me. I can usually handle it. I do because I would do anything for that acceptance. And I am devastated when he yanks the acceptance away with criticism.

But I don't feel sorry for myself. Though I do mourn on occasion what I don't have. Then I go back to my "choose joy" attitude. And pray for more love and acceptance in the future.
ANYWAY, I did this layout, because on this part of the journey, I realize just how much my unconditional love means to Cora. That through the current therapy she is going through, WE are going through, we have so much in common, and we can be there for each other. I love her despite it all... more than I ever thought possible.
(I also threw in some Hambly transparency, AND those squares are cut from the ad postcard in the SC kit. :) )

OK, the NEXT layout is a bonus! Also from the Studio Calico kit, I decided to participate in the ABC Scripture challenge that Patter Cross is hosting/leading. I SHOULD be on "B". I had "A" MOSTLY finished for some time. {Anchor is the "a" word} So now it is done, and I can move on. :)

I kept it simple, but misted... and hand stitched. :)
Check out the anchor on the button! :) I used ad postcard for this one too! The butterfly and camera.

Imaginisce Designer Intro... 10 things you MIGHT not know about me...

If your coming over from the Imaginisce blog, thank you! :)
If you are just stopping by, be sure to check out the "10 things you don't know about Penny" on the Imaginisce blog!
Some of my scrappy friends may already know a few of these from layouts... but it was VERY fun to write up, and I hope you get a chuckle or two!

I am thrilled to be a part of the team for a second year!
It is a FABULOUS company! It's the people that make it super special to be a part of this team!

If you aren't a follower of my blog, I encourage you! ANY giveaway I have, all followers are included in the drawing!

Since I have already been a part of the team this last year, I thought I would show MY top 5 favorite layouts from 2010!

This LO was from a sketch... Those squares filled the page on the sketch.
Leave it to me to find a way to add LOTS of "white" space!
Can you tell I am in LOVE with the Birthday Bash Banners! For this, I went with a twist on the fall theme... it's not fall. :)
This one was just fun to do!
And my 5th place... I couldn't decide. So I am going with two, from the same line (To Love and Cherish).
This one was about my husband...
And this one is one is of my best friend and her daughter. (I took the picture too. :) )
The flowers are handmade, before "Roly Posies" came out! :)
OH, and I thought of an #11! I kinda think scrapbooking without journaling is silly! {ducking} :)
I judge scrapbooking at a local fair, and the entrants KNOW how I am, and know that if "where, when, and who" isn't SOMEWHERE on the page (or on the back even) they could lose a blue!
You will RARELY see a layout of mine without journaling. And if it doesn't based on design, I journal on the back! I want the people related to me 100 years from now to know why I did this! Otherwise they will just pretty pages stacked in a antique store like so many photos today!

Thanks for stopping by!
Be sure to comment here and on the Imaginisce blog to have a chance of winning something! YAY!

MAD Monday... take 3!

*MAD Monday stands for "Make a Dent" Monday... every Monday I try to "Make a Dent" by scrapping my scrapbooking supplies that have been hoarded, and have thus been sitting around looking pretty, but not being used. Solution. A regular feature that forces me to use my stash!

OK. This time I am using Pebbles Inc.. It is an adorable "love" line which I bought for their call. I used the other paper collection I bought, but never got to this. So here it was time.
It was probably out last year about this time before Valentines. I love the bold patterns and colors!
I tried the "scrap border". I decided NOT to sew... probably because my table is a mess, and I was not in the mood to clean much to sew. :)
So this is it!
I also used some brads and flair I have been hoarding (MME and AC) and some Heidi Grace bird stickers I have also been saving "for the perfect project". Yeah, right. :)

Yes... I have a well trained Chihuahua! She is trained to stay on her blanket. Once noise from me, and she gets right back on it. At the store or on my scrap table, she is a very good girl!
When I walk her, people always do a double take to see a tiny Chihuahua healing! Too cute!

Thanks for stopping by!

Animal Crackers RELEASE PARTY {Imaginisce}

It's time for the release of Animal Crackers!
Don't worry... it is not JUST for circus goers!
There area a lot of fun patterns and prints and banners that could be used for Birthday (there are even animals with party hats on!), everyday/playtime, kids, school...
But it's hard not to like it's bright colored fun!

OK, so I'll start with my first layout (I have another one in the works)
I LOVE bright colored mists! These happen to be Maya Mist.
I did "game night" for my first layout.
Grandma Sue and Aunt Pat playing Wii! Too funny!
It kinda worked out that they were looking up at the picture with the TV screen. I really didn't work that out ahead of time. Sometimes there are happy accidents. :)
I decided to sew inside of the stars. Took awhile, but I might try it again sometime.

OK, so be nice. I am a LAYOUT girl!
I got this album at our garage sale at Scrapaganza.
This album is made from popcorn holders you can get at Hobby Lobby. FUN!




































Now go on over to the Imaginisce blog and check back each day because there are giveaways in addition to a TON of great inspiration!

MAD Monday!

"Make A Dent" Monday take 2!

OK, so it is barely Monday anymore.
But sometimes it may be later on Monday I get to go MAD. :)
I had this October Afternoon "Report Card" paper I have been hoarding.
So I thought to scrap a subject that we may forget about if I didn't get it on paper.
Gavin started 4th grade, and his teacher thought he needed more of a challenge in math.
So she suggested he start 5th grade math.
It HAS been a challenge for him.
And he doesn't always like it not being "easy", but his Dad helps him daily,
and it is an opportunity to grow.

So I scrapped it.
I used several alphabet sets... Thickers, Cosmo Cricket, and Maya Road rub-on letters.
I got my Heidi Swapp "invisibles" chipboard stars as masks. (Inked with Maya Mist in a green).
Used my new Fiskars star punch...

This was FUN! I like goin' MAD!

So link me up if you "Made A Dent"!

I-Top Intensive Mini-Blog Hop Day 3 {Layouts} AND The Story Matters January!

OK so I owned an I-Top before I was ever on the Imaginisce design team, because I thought it was brilliant.
I could make a brad that matched my project any time out of the paper I was using.
Since then, there are button "daddies", badge/pin "daddies", magnet "daddies", snap "daddies", twist "daddies"... SO many things to make completing projects all that much easier!
That works for me.So when this blog hop was set up, I was sure to jump on board the layout day! I'm a layout girl!
But before we get to my layout-this is how it works:
You can win an I-Top for yourself JUST by "hopping" the three designers of the day

Penny Smith’s blog (you are here) …

Robyn Schaub’s blog then …

Cari Locken’s blog
(AND leaving a comment),
and then "hopping" back to the Imaginisce blog and commenting there!

In addition to the chance to win an I-Top today, there is ALSO a GRAND prize on Friday...
The prize hasn't even been announced yet!
So be sure to join us for inspiration AND a chance to win through Friday!

So here is my layout:
(click to see larger)I misted using a mask... a mask like this can EASILY be made by using the leftovers from Cricut cutting!
I used three colors. Green, yellow and pink. I sprayed green, then moved the mask a bit to the right, sprayed yellow, then moved the mask to the left of the green spraying and sprayed pink.
I made sure to over spray on the top and bottom too.
I put down a chipboard bird too.
He's subtle, but he's there.

The I-Top brads were a way to add the striped paper as an accent, without it being overpowering.
It was also a way to add different sized matching brads to the layout.
I also added a few I-Rock Glam Rocks "Rhinestuds" that match Garden Party PERFECTLY!

The NEXT stop on the hop is
Robyn Schaub!
Don't forget, to be eligible for today's prize you must "hop" and comment on all three blogs AND the Imaginisce blog!
Thanks for "hoppin'" by!
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January The Story Matters Reveal

I will say that with this kit I was hopeful, but I was not sure how I would do with it...
But I was lucky. The creativity was flowin'!
I love that.
When you see a paper or embellishment and an idea pops in your head!
AWESOME!
Wish it happened every day.
I'll take what I can get.
I ALREADY have four layouts from this kit, and I hope to have more with the challenges ahead!
I haven't even used my cute date tags yet!
(See some of the other designers LO where these are highlighted!)
They were an etsy find!

These first 2 layouts were when I got my "punch all over the page" punches by Martha.
I pop dotted around the back edge of the punched shape to the paper was set back and it gave dimension.
So maybe it is time to move on from Christmas... but there is plenty of conversation still going on about whether it is OK or not to have the tree down yet on Facebook... so just one more Santa layout!
The star is also a new Martha punch...
This picture... I LOVE this picture of us! It is SO us! Each and every one of us!
I just put my camera on the trunk of the car, and set the timer, and I will ALWAYS be glad I did!
I will have this picture hanging on the wall at the nursing home! It's priceless!
This is a very simple LO, but I just LOVE this picture of my son, and it worked with the size of the cards and the childlike simplicity of the LO.
(OK, I might be laying it on thick with that comment.)
Notice I haven't gotten over my sewing phase yet? :)
So that's what I have done so far! LOVE it!
You can buy one kit of TSM, and cancel before the next month comes out...
(after sneak peeks so you can check it out first!)
No cancellation fees. No paying extra for one kit. Plain and simple!
Try us out!

Now go check out the other designers/"Authors" creations!

Page Maps January!

I was a contributor to Page Maps January!
YAY me!

I LOVED this sketch!
(the fact that I was so LITERAL with it, says something! I usually turn sketches on their head!)And I LOVED the layout that came out if it!
It is using the December "The Story Matters" kit!
(Still a few available!! You'll LOVE this kit!
You should pick it up!!)
Simple, but so warm for a winter layout!
Gotta love Kraft cardstock.
White Coconut Swirl-which has NO texture (go figure) in white, Black Bird in black and Kraft.
I don't need any other background. Those are my favs.
I kinda panic if I the store gets low on any of these...
When we are out of Kraft... GASP!

What is your favorite staple??

MAD {make a dent} Monday - And be FUNNIER already!

(Warning... LONG entry!)

Seriously.

The people that know me think I am funny.
No really.
Can't tell by my blog most days.
It's all "look at this"...
Ugh.
So I need to be "funnier".
It's who I am.
Of course when I am being more funny, I am usually being more opinionated too.
We'll see where that leads us.
Might get me kicked off the web.
We'll see.

So let's start with why "Make a Dent" Monday's...
Cuz I have too much crap.
Scrap crap.
I hoard.
I save things for that "special" project.
Then is sits too long and it ends up at our LSS garage sale with me saying "I really loved that."
Duh.
Who am I kidding.
I will never be able to use all this...
but I could at LEAST try!
Geez.

Go Me!!

So I am going to do a layout EVERY (cough) Monday,
using ANYTHING that isn't due for an assignment,
or a call,
or a class!
Period.
And I am going to get messy more.
(OK, so I didn't get messy today.
I just got something done.
Baby steps.)

First, the proof...
Now I can show you all those pretty close ups that make it look like a have an awesome artsey scrap space.
That would be a lie.
I mean, I DO have a cool scrap space (well, I think so anyway)
but it is NEVER fully clean or organized.
If I wait to show you the room when it is clean....
...well, we all will be gone...
SO, I'll go with what I have.

So let's start with the pretty close ups, shall we?
Here are a couple of my vintage cameras.
Leave it to me. I never got lucky enough to have a vintage camera perfect for TtV's already,
when I discovered TtV shooting.
Yep, that's my luck.
And a couple of my favorite stamps (I have an owl thing, btw.)
And a wire figure my son made me out of sparkler wire leftovers.
Pretty creative if you ask me. (He gets that from me. snort!)

Another of the shelves... another camera, a bingo card,
and some random doll I thought looked like my son
(or would anyway) during an ugly ebay stint years ago.
Lots of purchases that made no sense really.
What these shelves REALLY looks like?
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

And above the shelves...
I love that picture of Jerry and I.
It is our engagement picture.
(only a tad over 10 years ago... where did my hips go?? There in there SOMEwheres! :) )
It was signed by most of the people at the reception.
And it STILL doesn't have glass!
I might be being a little TOO honest. Eek.
Oh well.
The other pictures are here because they are in frames I probably wouldn't buy today,
but they worked in here because of the somewhat manly green color.

I didn't take a picture, but, I was inspired by Christina Middlecamp years ago, to have my husband and I share this room. (She use to share a space w/husband.)
He has a desk in the corner.
"Side by side" time.
We make comments to each other once in awhile.
It's better than no time.

More illusion...
My adhesive basket that sits on my desk.
It's really more for less used and back-ups.
I have one of those scrap bags you see everywhere at crops.
That's were my adhesive I use regularly lives...
But THAT'S not pretty!

Now the reality...
THIS is my work space.
And I would say it is actually pretty clean right now!

I still can't part with my Autumn Leaves calendar.
What?!? It's only like 4 years old!
That red pottery?
You could just TELL it was made by a kid in school.
And the parents or grandparents gave it to Goodwill!
Perfect for my pens.
One of a kind, really.
See the pyrex cuties and rack?
Well, I chuckled, because when I took a close up,
(I throw loose buttons and brads and things in there that would get lost and never seen)
I didn't realize that one of the dishes was toppled.
I didn't even notice it!
And I am SURE this one did it!
(Notice him sticking his tongue out at me??)
His name is Ashton.
Asherton Peabody.
Ashton Amadeus .
And we KNEW we had the right name for him when my husband said
"And when we are mad at him we can call him "Ash-hole"!
Or was that me...
Never-the-less the cat with 20 names!

Let's back up a second! When you walk into my house, this room is what you see...

So I TRY to keep it neat. (snort-more like hope no one ever comes over!)

OK, so a few more shots...
More evidence that I need to use some of this stuff UP!

The dresser I keep Tim Holtz/Ranger and class set up stuff in...
and things I like to look at on it.
Notice the labels still stuck on it from the person that gave me the dresser.
She actually labeled her dresser contents. (There's an idea. Or not.)

One of my fun finds...
I got this shoe mold holder at Three Potatoe Four.
(Over priced vintage. but they find some cool things...)
I put embellishments that I don't want to fall into the Abyss there.

OH, and if you noticed my FABULOUS workbench
(above in picture from the door)
I got for Christmas LAST year,
Here is what faces me! Fabulous drawers!

Not everything in there is very pretty... I would LOVE to eliminate all plastic.
(Even the "didn't have anywhere ELSE for them to go" wooden shelves are better!)
I keep most of my stamps here:
(there are a TON of stamps stuffed into that floral bag! )

OK a couple more...
...they get messier as they go.
My paper tray and my Ikea expedit 2 cube x 4 cube shelving.
...not very neat, but it conceals much of the mess!
More of that shelving and the mess on/above!
I like having pictures and items that are just for lookin' at!
Like that bingo spinner.
Fun find!

More mess:
Yes, that is a reproduction "antique Italian liquor monkey poster".
Say that 5 times fast!
Those flowers will be headbands one day.
I like the Clip it Up system. Even if it really isn't all that nice to look at.

OK! On to the point!
Let's start easy.
I had a pack of Bella Blvd. "Estate Sale".
And whipped up this:
Simple, but it got these picture that I LOVE on a layout.
Maybe it's crappy... but at least I USED some crap!
(OK, I would NOT let my kids say that word!
What is WITH me!)

I DID sew. I am SO addicted to sewing right now!
Geez!
I'm not good at it.
But I enjoy it!
If you didn't read about the machine I got, I'll remind you.
The Janome Sew Mini. It has the same metal bobbin drop and and needle housing the big Janomes do! I have sewn a lot, and my friends at crops have too... no issues!
It is SUPER light weight, so I take it to crops every time now!

Here is a detailed shot of the layout.
So this isn't a challenge...
BUT if you want to show me something you created because you decided to "Make a dent" in your stash-cool!
Or if you want to share pictures of your scrap crap space-cool!

Alrighty! Go live the rest of your life!
Hopefully I'll see ya soon! :)

PS-Kelli Crowe, you inspired me to lighten up and blog "me"...
You make me laugh EVERY time I go to your blog!
Thank you!