New Season

I did not post for awhile. My mom passed away 12/31/12, and I didn't feel very much like blogging. I really didn't do a lot creatively these past months, either, but I think that is natural. I needed time to think about her. Anything I say will never convey how I feel, so I will just say, I love my mother. I am so grateful I will see her again.

As for the store. It's still a labor of love. I feel like I should be further along, but I try to give myself a break, and remind myself that I am learning. Everything about this venture is an act of love. I have a plan, and I am working it!

I've added a new aisle, our Yard Sale! My thought is to list stamps I used in classes at discounted prices. A lot of the stamps are ink stained, others are nearly brand new. The prices vary, but everything is discounted. I want to find them homes. Oh, by the way... this terrific woman from Australia bought a stamp, and she asked me if I would remove it from the mount, to help with shipping cost. I was happy to do that for her. If there is ever something you would like to talk about, please bring it up. Email me through the ScrapbookingStory.com, and I'll do my best to answer within a day.

As for product, you probably have noticed I have a mix of new, new, new, and hard to find. That is because I carry what I love, and I carry what I can't find enough of. So, if you don't find it anywhere else, you may find it with us. My shop is small, but my hope is to stock it with little surprises, you will really like.

Last year, I created our first ScrapbookingStory.com Page Kit and we did a Card Kit fundraiser for New Brothers Fellowship. I am going to build on that this year. So look for more original kits from me. One thing I want to do is actually put mini classes up. Let's see if by summer I can get that going. I loved Allison posting how she made her own embellishments on this blog last year! So cute! That is the sort of thing I am thinking about--quick and simple techniques to inspire you.

As for contests and such? Yes. Those will poke their heads up, too. I'll always list those on FB, too.

Shipping is a big pain! It is very hard to get 12 x 12 paper to you, cheaply AND safely. So bear with me. I am still trying to find options. Right now, most people select USPS Priority Mail.

I have nearly finished a very important project. I only have a few more lay-outs, and I will have finished an album for my dear, dear friend, Kitty. She left me an envelope of pictures, and asked me to make her a book. These pictures are little chapters of a fantastic human being's life story, just glimpses, but so precious. I am nearly done. It has been a bittersweet process, and one I am so glad to have undertaken. I can't share the pages with you, because this is not my story to tell. So, I complete the pages, and I send them to her wonderful daughter, Julie, wrapped with all of my love for my friend.

When I finish Kitty's book, then I can finish three grand-baby projects! One for my daughter, Beth's lovely Mother-in-Law, Sue, and two for Beth. And, then? Two wedding books. One for Beth and one for Allison. I seriously can hardly wait to get to those, because they are each so unique! I'll show you those pages, OK? I also need to finish my snowman project for 2012! Yes, 2012. I'll explain later : ) And, of course Easter cards.

Well, I think I am caught up. Spring is around the corner. It's hard to believe with the mountains  of snow outside, but you can feel it! Soon, it will be time to garden again. I hope you are well and I hope you make something, today. Have fun! It's your art, you cannot do it wrong. It's your story, no one else can tell it.

Love,
Joy

Christmas Crafting. 27 Days and Counting.

Christmas is around the corner, we all know that. I am feeling the creativity crunch. I have a lot of making to do, and only- shall I say it! Only, 27 actual days to get it all done. On Christmas Eve every gift will be tucked into a stocking or set under a tree--one way or the other. The truth is, despite my complaining, I love making gifts for my family and friends. I already love to be creative, no doubt, but there is something deep-down satisfying about creating for someone you love. I always wish I could do just a little bit more, yet once I wrap my little gift, attach the tag, and send it on its way, I feel gratified. It is a hug, disguised as a felt snowman, or a set of handmade cards, and I know my gift is perfect as it is, even though I am completely aware of all of its imperfections. You may be like me, busy with a job, and family responsibilities. Maybe, you have a few too many bills this year?  It could be that there are some challenges to your goal of keeping the spirit of Christmas glowing in your heart? I'm right there with you... Life is just not perfect. It's creative, spontaneous, accidental. Things happen. Those of us that "make things" we know all about that. We just work around it. We make it happen. It's all part of the creative story, the goofs and flaws, as well as the perfection. So, I am going to pull out my basket of craft projects, and soon-to-be-Christmas gifts, and I will (slowly but surely) send everyone a Christmas hug, disguised as a cross-stitched bookmark, or maybe a scrapbooked wreath...
Happy Christmas Crafting
Joy

a little update

hi everyone

i remember when i was a teenager people would say that time goes by so much quicker the older you get and I didn't really understand.

However, as every year passes this becomes more and more real to me. this year has gone by sooo fast

as I finished my last scrapbook I intended to take a small break. Then before you know it its summer and all I want to do is play. Then I'm starting a new job which took up sooo much time, now things are settleing down and now the holidays are here,the year is almost over, and I still have two scrapbooks to finish!

Its time to start utilizing my time a little better!

My sister and I have started a photography company Strawberry Patch Photography.  This has taken up SO much time but, it has been so much fun and I can't wait to scrapbook some of these photos we have taken!  

I'm hope to make a Scrapbook/Portfolio of our photos.  But, that wont be for a little while. :)

Right now, I'm working on some homemade Christmas presents and then the big plan is to bust out at LEAST one more scrapbook before the end of the year.  I'm determined! 

Looking back on my "new years resolution" list I have gotten pretty close to completing a lot of these goals. 

Here is a reminder of what they were...

1. Read a min. of 10 Books. --In a book club, so I'm almost there!
2. Pay off some debt! --Yes! $300 more and a CC is PAID OFF
3. Write down things I'm thankful for weekly, if not daily. (Hmm...that would be a good  scrapbooking page!) --Hm...kinda forgot about this... SHOOT!
4. Go to an NBA game. --Done!
5. Do a snowy photo shoot. --Planning on this Winter
6. Save for my next tattoo.--Getting it THIS week, pictures to come.
7. Visit Quebec City for our wedding anniversary.--Went to Europe instead. :)
8. Complete my 2009 Scrapbook.--Done!
9. Complete my 2010 Scrapbook.--Done!
10. Complete my 2011 Scrapbook.--Still to Come.
11. Complete my Europe Scrapbook.--2013 Goal. 
12. Complete my niece's Brag Book..--Done!

Think I'm doing pretty well. 

How are YOUR goals coming along?

till next time...

My Scrapbooking Story: Allison's Tips and Tricks #3

My Scrapbooking Story: Allison's Tips and Tricks #3: Cupcake Liner Flowers! 1) First things first get your hands on some cupcake liners.  I found these cute polka dot mini cupcake liners f...

Allison's Tips and Tricks #3

Cupcake Liner Flowers!

1) First things first get your hands on some cupcake liners.  I found these cute polka dot mini cupcake liners for $1 at Walmart, I had the other two at home.

2) Flatten them out.

3) Cut around the liners to make "petals".

4) Glue down the liners into each other.

 5) Place a button, brad, piece of felt, or whatever you choose in the center and Voila! Flowers!

New Page Kits at ScrapbookingStory.com!

I am happy to announce that we have begun to produce our own page kits. These page kits are especially for the beginner scrapbooker, or the super-busy crafter that would like to get pages done fast and easy! Everything you need is included. Just add your adhesive, and maybe a pair of scissors! Our first kit is "Fresh As A Daisy." It includes a cute little ribbon butterfly idea that you will be able to recreate on lots of projects! Instructions included. Only $7.99 for this one page 12x12 lay-out! Designer: Joy Marquez

The Double Layout Dilemma

Double layouts equal horror for me.  I always struggled to find a cohesiveness between two pages. I think this is difficult for me for two reasons.

First, because I'm a budget scrapbooker.  In general I struggle to spend a lot of money---on anything!  Therefore, the idea of using TWO full 12x12's of ANY paper drives me crazy!  This budget scrapbooking often leads to only having a little bit of the PERFECT paper for a double layout.  

Which leads right into the Second reason why double layout are the hardest scrapbooking for me.  Once I commit myself to a paper or an idea I have a really hard time changing my mind.  It's like when you're play Scrabble and you "find" the word "Hi" after that it's impossible to seen that 7 letter word staring right at you!  ---at least that's how it is for me. 

ANYWAYS..... In today's blog I'm going to talk about how to overcome the Double Layout Dilemma.

Here is my Camping double layout.  I have been holding onto this firework Reminisce Paper for a very long time because we always go camping over the 4th of July.  Well.... little old me didn't realize how demanding this paper would be.  It is an attention hog! Here is the way I worked through this layout...

1) Sketched the layout.  Originally this layout had the 3 4x6's on the right hand side. 1 circle photo on the right page. Plus 2 more circle photos on the left hand side.  And the title went across both pages.  

2) Choosing paper.  I choose the fireworks, of course, and the Sassafras Sunshine Broadcast paper (one of my favorites).  Since, one of my favorite things to do is mixing patterned paper I really must let the paper dictate how many photos and extra's the page can hold. 

3) Cutting Back.  I realized straight away I needed to cut the amount of pictures down.  So I got rid of the circle photos and let the firewords be the organic part of the page. 

4) Begin.  I started with the Right page because I knew it would be easier since I wanted the 3 4x6's to be stacked with means I only have half a page to deal with.  Then I started cutting. I knew I couldn't use all of the firework paper so I starting cutting out "pretty" fireworks.  Put the paper down and it worked.

5) Going with your gut. From then on I just went with my gut, looked at my product and tried to match and coordinate. :)

Another piece of beautiful, challenging Daisy Bucket paper.  I had two pieces from the Merry Wishes Holiday Lane line .  And I had some embellishments that I HAD to use because I just loved them. 

What I did was cut.  I started cutting the paper. I cut out the tree, decided to use the same design, opposing colors borders.  And just worked with the paper. 

The wonderful thing about this paper is that it's SO Christmassy!  I didn't have to do much else decoration because I like the paper and the pictures to be the star of a page! 

Then I used the embellishments the express the events of the day.