Scrapbooking For Beginners and Beyond

Musical Scrapbook Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:52:00 +0000

It's been a very long time since I posted to this blog, but I felt an OVERWHELMING urge to do so today. Why? Because music has graced my soul today.

While music THIS GOOD always brings me back to the painful reality that I so badly MISS being a part of the music industry; it's also SO GOOD that it is too good not to LOVE "truly. madly. and deeply (savage garden)!

Today - music speaks to me simply by being there - in the background, fueling my work and providing inspiration. I will someday piece together a scrapbook on the music that touches me most...and in that scrapbook it would include thoughtful tributes to artists like:

Lauryn Hill
Corine Bailey Ray
John Mayer
Colbie Caillat
Jagged Edge
Jodeci
Craig David
Lilly Allen
Mariah Carey
India Arie

and many more...

I am TOUCHED to the absolute core by all of these artists. From their soulful voices to their lyrics, music production and over all uniqueness...all it takes is the first BEAT or the right NOTE in their voices to take me over the edge.

For this I am forever grateful. My musical scrapbook will be entitled, GOOD LUV (which is the title of one the best Jodeci songs EVER made)! This scrapbook would emphasize exactly what it is about each of them - or the most favored songs they sing...and it would be a constant reminder to me EVERY TIME I opened it - what it feels like to FEEL something so good that you can feel it in the deepest corners of your soul!

For now (without the time or patience to create this scrapbook album)...I wish to simply thank you publicly Colbie Caillat for creating Bubbly. There is something about that song that takes me WELL BEYOND THE EDGE! Its such an amazing song and it definitely takes hold of my soul!

Feeling this love of music on a SOUL level is what GOOD LUV is all about!

Stacy Julian - Big Picture Scrapbooking - New eBook

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Hot new book from Stacy Julian!

No matter how you say it, it's the truth: YOU are creative. You have a unique way of seeing the world, combining ideas, and creating art. And yet you probably still lack confidence in your abilities and insights. Well, that's about to change. UR2 Cre8ive is here to help unleash your full potential.

Click here to get it now...

Filled with eloquent observations, energizing exercises, and enticing projects (inspired by the bigpicturescrapbooking.com workshop of the same name), this eBook condenses Stacy's inspirational message into a portable creativity guide, illustrated by beautiful pictures and projects—some new, some tried-and-true.

THANK YOU STACY!

Our Vancouver Olympics Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:17:00 +0000

So the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics is in my backyard this year. Needless to say the buzz in the entire lower mainland is nutty! The energy and excitement is unprecedented. The pride we share as a province is without a doubt going to last us a lifetime.

AND....to my extreme joy and excitement - the olympic torch came to my childs school too! The entire relay team got out and mingled with us - before AND after they finished. Not only did I get FANTASTIC group shots of them all - I also managed to snag family photo's WITH THE TORCH in our hands.

Of course I photoshopped the background out and turned it into my own personal scrapbook page.

Just for the record though - I am not trying to infringe on any copyright laws by using the background image which I got here (http://www.vancouver2010.com/img/00/08/91/graphic-identity_38original-aE.jpg) .....

I simply feel lucky and blessed that the Olympics are here and we were able to capture a moment like this on camera. Thank you Vanoc; thank you Olympics.

Bottom line/moral of the story....

Not everyone gets to touch and hold the torch for the olympics. It brings a little tear to my eye knowing that all of us got to this day. This so far has been the highlight of these events. But we are only 1 day into the festivities and there is much more to come!

Tonight I will be taking photo's at the Richmond Ozone. I look forward to this and many other moments from the 2010 Winter Olympics as well!

Come Interact with Us

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:25:00 +0000

For quite some time now, as we have been developing the home site for Scrapbooking Directions.com we've had the comments sections turned off. This was for many reasons - but mostly to build out a robust spam blocking system so that when our visitors got to our site they would get valuable content in the scrapbooking articles we share but also within the comments sections.

This was not without errors. As with any site (especially new ones) there are bound to be little issues, bugs or fires to deal with here and there. Yesterday we fixed one of those and as a result our comments sections are now LIVE!

That means that if you visit Scrapbooking Directions.com from this day forward - and you are inspired, intriqued or even confused about something in our Scrapbooking Articles, you can leave a comment and we will answer it!

We have seen fantastic success since this feature got enabled and we would love to see more. But we do need help. Just check out this page referring to our Interview with Cathy Zielske (formerly of Simple Scrapbooking, now with Big Picture Scrapbooking and Designer Digitals); and this page "A Public Review of Die Cutting Machines" - they are both great examples of how others just like you are getting involved. And getting value!

You see we are here for YOU! Unlike other scrapbooking sites out there (not all)....what you want from Scrapbooking right now, is what matters to us. We're not just throwing up our own latest creations or trying to feed YOU with product suggestions or project confinements that you don't need. We want to give you a VOICE. You can search the entire site using the search box in the top right corner when you get there, and you will most likely find what you are looking for...and if you don't find EXACTLY what you are looking for - we will deliver it by way of answering your comments. So....in order for this to work...

We need YOUR comments. We need YOUR questions.
We need YOUR interaction.

If you like what we share here on this Scrapbooking Mini-Blog - just wait until you get to the big site, Scrapbooking Directions.com. There is a lot more in store for you there. And there is a lot more to come.

So please visit the home site of Scrapbooking Directions.com and let us know how you feel. You can even comment on our site if you wish, simply pick a page to comment from and go for it.

We are devoted to your needs in scrapbooking.

Happy Scrapping, Cijaye DePradine.

The worst day ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:32:00 +0000

So, I am pretty sure that if there was a contest for the worst day ever - I believe today for me takes the cake and I had to share it.

So my morning starts of with my childs schoolbus flat out leaving us behind. We were one minute early for regular pick up - but due to a series of circumstances that lead to this I had to then take my daughter to school myself which is not exactly close to my home - in fact it's approx 20 minutes away from my home; so I had to take a leave from my work. (When time is MONEY - I also LOST money on this one!!!)

So, okay...the 20 minutes had to be done, and would have been fine at the end of the day had I NOT taken the wrong turn onto the highway and overshot the distance by nearly 40kms! YIKES! Now we tack on another 15 minutes to the drive! OUCH!

Then after I drop my daughter off, I proceed to take my son to his father so that he could get him to emergency (due to a growing bug that kept getting chalked up to a traditional virus) while I go to meet the executives at my office.

I was late for this meeting - which is never a good idea anyhow. One executive must bow out. :o( OMG as if this could be any worse!

By the time it's all said and done, meeting is over I am making my way back home - - it's now 4 hours since my son has been at the hospital and still no real results.

Now I know that some of you may be thinking aw no big deal - stuff happens and we just have to deal with it - but it does get worse.

I get home from my meeting to find a plastic wrap and green painters tape temporarily patching up HOLE in the celing of my main hallway!

We had a contractor working in our attic while we were all away: he tripped over a wire and BAM! Through the roof his leg goes. I had to laugh at this point or I'd start to bawl! Then I move further into the house to find another crack in the celing (luckily only where the hatch to the attic is)... I will post photos very soon (after I scrapbook this whole ordeal!)!

THEN....I have to do the errand dance for after school drop off's and gymnastics - which once again I take the WRONG road for and off I go in a direction I don't belong and I am late for this class too!

Finally - when I had the chance to settle - I crash. (Not the car...I guess that would have been the icing on the cake though - wouldn't it) ....no instead, I take a nap in the car because all of the composure I kept throughout the day ....

Coming home to no dinner and a sink and counter full of dishes wasn't fun either.... but I sucked it up and made it work - all while running myself a LONG OVERDUE, WELL NEEDED bubble bath!...

Thank goodness for the peace and serenty of candlelit soaks alone!!!!

But for now - let me ask you - how was your day?

I need a new CuttleBug Machine!

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Ladies and Gentleman - I am on a mission! I need a new Cuttlebug Die Cutting machine but cannot find one ANYWHERE! It's incredible how popular this genius of a paper crafts machine this is!

Had I known they would be sold out everywhere - I would have bought 2 or 3 last time so that I would never ever be without one.

If anyone knows of where I can get one at an excellent price (they currently range between $50 and $100 out here) - please let me know....

Thanx - you are all wonderful!

CuttleBug Die Cutting Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:10:00 +0000

Just when you think you have seen all that can be done with cuttlebug die cuts...Inking Pink comes out with something so unique and so cute that you almost feel the NEED to do it - just to say you can...even though you might not have one single need for a paper mushroom in your home or office.

But hey...when was paper crafting about need. It's about inspiration, art, expression, story telling, photo sharing, creativity and so much more.

To think that somewhere in the back of someone's mind an idea to create something this cool with a few die cut pieces just blows my mind.

Inking Pink you are an artist! There is no question about it and you have inspired me today!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...Cijaye DePradine.

P.S. We have more reviews of cuttlebug projects here.

Tea Bag Holder "Get Well" Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:55:00 +0000

Have you ever had a loved one or someone you care about come down with an aweful cough or cold and all you want to do is help them get through it?

Your thoughtfullness will go a long way for sure...but what about taking that thoughtfullness one step further...why not give them your favorite tea to sooth the illness and pass the time along with the perfect handmade card to package it all just right?

SplitCoast Stampers has the perfect tutorial for the occasion and you definitely need to try it! It's absolutely darling!

It doesn't appear to be too difficult either. In fact there are 2 different options (one easy, one intermediate)...you should have NO problems.

I am certain your loved ones will appreciate it!

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/teabagholder/

Mothers Day Scrapbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:52:00 +0000

If you are anything like me you will be scrambling right up to the very last moment to find that perfect gift for mom. So...it would be quite appropriate then to give you some last minute mothers day scrapbook gift tips.

First...lets talk about giving the gift of a scrapbook page/album. Which one will it be? Will it be a photo collage page that you place into a scrapbook photo frame? Or will it be a mini or full album solely devote to mom?

Also - what are you going to say? Do you want focus on big bold compliments on the page(s) OR do you want to tell stories? Bold compliments will keep your pages simple and allow you to use titles more effectively. Stories will take a lot more time - but will provide deeper meaning behind every page etc.

Click here for some NEW mothers day quotes or titles .

Next...you will want to determine the theme etc. Take some time out to think about mom. Who is she? What does she like or love? (Music, movie, entertainment etc). What types? What sort of personality does she have? Are there scrapbook papers, embellishments etc. that you can use that will match up with this?

For more ideas on how to match your scrapbook to moms personality you might want to read this article on Mothers Day Scrapbook Ideas.

Also for a really neutral but very fun digital scrapbook kit for mothers day...check these out mothers day scrapbook elements, quotes or titles.

Finally - if you need some assistance in creating the PERFECT scrapbook page layouts for mom...check out our partners scrapbook sketches.

Have fun with your projects!

P.S. Don't forget to make mom an elegant handmade card for mothers day as well.

Scrapbook Photo Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:53:00 +0000

Are you looking for new scrapbooking ideas? Perhaps new layouts? Or layout challenges? What about free digital scrapbook elements? If so...why not register to be a member of our new Scrapbooking Photo Gallery and enjoy the perks we have in store.

ALSO...if you are a digital scrapbook designer...you may also want to join the gallery and sponsor your very own challenges. There are albums waiting right now for your journaling challenges and your layout challenges. We'd love to see your work and promote your scrapbook business!

Ideas for your Scrapbooking Room

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Hi there...

Have you been wondering how you can transform a room in your home or even a corner of a room into a beautifully organized scrapbooking room lately? Do you have some obstacles in the way to prevent you from doing that though? Perhaps an a/c unit or heat register? Perhaps a big computer tower and / computer station that you can not seem to HIDE but would love to?

Well I believe I have a couple of really cool ideas for you (from my favorite CREATIVE home REdecorating website EVER) that will give you more space and hide the eyesores.

First: Hide a register and get a display stand!
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2009/03/handsome-makeover-for-ugly-ac-unit.html

Second: Reinvent the computer tower...and gain more space.
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2009/02/ikea-lack-htpc.html

Third: What about that ugly old cabinet or set of drawers in the room that is very practical but also horrible to look at? Want to refinish it but don't want to sand, stain or paint it? Try this:
http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2007/08/more-fira-mini-chest-hacks.html

Or the comfortable but falling apart office chair; does it support you well but need a new face?: http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/02/save-your-old-chair-with-new-look.html

Fourth: What about your display items...would you like to be more creative with how you stock your shelves with scrapbooking supplies OR how you post your latest scrapbooking pages? Have you thought about peg boards, magnets or trendy curtain wires before? Why not create your own versions of these?
http://bungalowinsanity.com/2008/05/11/a-cheap-and-easy-way-to-display-kids-artwork/#more-353

Fifth: Or why not redo the entire room from an empty slate (bringing most of it up on the walls). You will LOVE THIS! http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/12/home-office-make-over.html

I am just about finished my reno's too. I have organized my scrapbook room in exactly the way I had envisioned it. And all I have left to do is get the peg board up and stack the shelves again!

Stay tuned.

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:17:00 +0000

The new site is live please come visit

You can contact me at 7788409673
Vous pouvez me joindre au 7788409673.

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Scrapbook Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Just wanted to send a quick update to let you know that I have created my first Scrapbooking Twitter account.

What I love about this platform is that I can keep you posted within seconds about what I am doing, why, how etc. and you can do the same.

Twitter is not a time eater - and you can still get great information from it. I absolutely love it.

That said...I should also let you know that I will be upgrading the Scrapbooking Directions website very soon. In fact, it's currently on a "staging server" as we speak. The new design and layout is amazing - it's perfect for segmenting digital scrapbooking and paper scrapbooking as well as hybrid scrapbooking. So please visit regularly as I anticipate that the new site will be up before the end of March 2009!

Okay that's it for today.

Happy Scrapping to You!

Tim Holtz - Grungeboard

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Year in Review Scrapbooking: 2008 Appreciation Theme

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:52:00 +0000

To all of you who frequent this blog and to those of you have stumbled upon it for the very first time, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year!

I am sure you, like myself had found 2008 a very crazy year. Mine was full of really large UPS and really big DOWNS. I went through a ton of emotions with a high paced - worldwide career, a very active family and all that comes with the two.

I have been way less active than I would have ever liked to be - or even expected to be with my life and my business (especially the more FUN aspects of the business (like this blog)).

I have done much less scrapbooking and card making than I ever expected to. (Although I did do a lot of Paper Bag Scrapbooks...and Mini-Cards in 2008).

I wanted to create a picaboo album for the family this year and had much of it started - then I lost it all somehow and got completely discouraged.

And so the story goes....

But here are some of the most amazing parts of 2008 that I would like to share in my Year in Review Scrapbooking post here....2008 marked....

A rekindled relationship with my husband (that I can't wait to journal into a romantic scrapbook for the two of us)...we decided to work MORE on us in 2008 - since parenting, leisure & work took over in 07.
A new found love for my children. *They have both finally reached that age where we can hang out like friends and have fun together for much longer periods of time - without exercising discipline or life lesson training.
A new appreciation for being HOME ....(I recently counted 23 stamps on my passport that was issued in 2007! Which means for a min. of 1 week - 2 weeks at a time - I was NOT at home at least 23 times between 2007 and 2009). Need I say more?
A new appreciation for SELF...I learned MORE about myself in 2008 than I had in my entire 33 years of life! I now know what I want and don't want from life, love and all that surrounds me...but more important I know what I want FROM myself and I am all the more grateful for that now.
An intense love for vacationing! WOW! I never knew how therapeutic a real vacation could be! I have taken many trips to see family and to work across the globe...but having taken 3 vacations in one year (in 2008) alone to places like Hawaii, Mexico and Disneyland...I can't wait to take more. In fact I have committed to taking at least one VACATION to a dream destination each year. I can't wait to start planning 2009 already!
A new love for my friends. After being with my husband for 12 years and having 10 years of parenting on my belt now...I finally learned how critical it is to have your friends around and keep them close...no MATTER what path your life takes. They bring you peace when you no longer feel that you get any, they bring you conversation that you can't always have at home or around the kids (or even with the hubby...right Girls!!!), they also keep the FUN FACTOR going - even when you feel incredibly burnt out or even "stuck in the same ol' same ol' routines of life" - - they help you break the chains of the life you created - and remind you that you CAN and should always maintain a life of your own. Thank you friends! Thank you!.
A new love for dogs. I grew up with dogs...and then cats...and for many years had NO PETS...I was happy with that so naturally along the way I lost sight of how cool dogs could be. Our new family addition (Hershey)...is one of the most loyal friends I know. He loves us in a way that no human ever would. He follows me everywhere I go. He cries when I leave him and he kisses me when I cry (to movies of course). He's 8 in human years...but plays like a puppy! He's also incredibly intelligent and has so many dimensions to his personality it amazes me every day!
A new appreciation for work. I know that sounds insane on many levels...but I do love the work that I do...and I appreciate having that work in times of economic crisis. It gives me and my family a sense of security that I could never find in all of my years as a solo-prenuer.
A new appreciation for TIME. Time is one of those things we can never get enough of - but I now fully appreciate the time that I do have. And now - finally....I don't have regrets with how I make use of the time. If all I want to do is sit and do nothing...then I am overjoyed to allow that to happen now. I no longer look back at that time and think of the many OTHER things that I could have done with that time. I am now at peace with how I spend it. (Why, because I have finally decided to THINK about how BEST to use the time I do have since it is so limited...and I am much better for it).
A new appreciation for Organization. I know that one sounds silly too...but I have more clothes and items in the home than I do space (because all I do is shop on these trips away from home). In 2008, I finally encountered that feeling of having every inch of my walls and storage taken up by something (and a lot of it JUNK!)...so one of my 2009 resolutions is to RE-ORGANIZE. From my closets and dressers to the scrapbook room, my walls and even my outdoors. I figure that an organized environment = more time, more productivity, more freedom! So...Cheers to that!
& A new love for fitness. So here's the deal with this one....I am one of those people who pays for gym memberships for YEARS and never goes. I keep the membership because I know I should go and like the idea of "being able to whenever I want to". But I make ton's of excuses why I can't go. (ie: Too busy, too tired, feel sick, not motivated, gyms are boring...blah, blah, blah)...but then I found the Nintendo Wii & Wii Fit! Its pretty phenomenal actually. After only 644 hula spins on the Wii Fit (Super Hula)...my abs are killing all over and I am excited to go again. I am also excited to do all of the other fitness activities that my kids have unlocked (as soon as my Mii can unlock them!). I can't see any reason why I would make excuses for this one - as the interactivity of a Wii Fit workout - is exactly what I need to get me over the most common of issues I normally have with workouts! Wii Hoooooo! Gotta love that right!).

And that's it friends. That's my core list of things I appreciate after my Year in Review for 2008. I look forward to appreciating all of these much more in 2009 too.

So...what's on your appreciation list? If you are willing to share it...please do so in the comments area...if not...it might at least be worthy of a scrapbook of your own? Don't you think?

New Digi Scrapbook Backgrounds

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:58:00 +0000

Hey there...

I was visiting the designer digitals site - which I do often to get inspired. And although - I elected NOT to take advantage of their freebies today...I still got around to creating a new digital scrapbook background for the holidays (from scratch)....

After telling my daughter what it said...she became inspired and despite my efforts to encourage her to create her own digital scrapbook background image for the holidays...she took control of photoshop and came up with this.

Regardless...she is 6 - and I am just ecstatic that she gets so involved to begin with...(she even came up with the title as well). It's such a gift to have her sit with me at the computer and create these pages. I just love it!

Thought I would share them for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Holidays.

How To Scrapbook A - Z... and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:24:00 +0000

Hello there...I just wanted to pop in really quickly and let you know what I have been up to.

....First, I've been creating Paper Bag Scrapbooks like a mad woman...(even though they are not archival and acid free they look great and they are much quicker and easier to put together and they are really cool to flip through!

I am thinking about putting the latest 20 *very unique Paper Bag Scrapbook designs / layouts into an eBook before Christmas time.

I am just waiting for feedback from my newsletter members on what they think of the idea before I commit to it. (If you like the idea, please do leave a comment here and let me know if you were to purchase a book on paper bag scrapbooking - what you would expect to see in the book...???)

Aside from that, I have also been writing Scrapbooking Ideas articles lately - as I was WELL behind on that task. I have just recently released 4. They are:

I have to admit - I do like them all...but I am especially partial to the "How to Scrapbook A - Z" article because I think it's my most creative and inspirational list of Scrapbooking Ideas and Tips yet!

I would really love for you to read it. You will really learn How to Scrapbook A - Z - but you will also learn more! Check it out and then come back here and let me know what you think.

Print Scrapbooking Supplies Online Here

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:29:00 +0000

Scrapbook Products

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:44:00 +0000

So, now that Disney is behind us (even though I dream of being back there - every single day) and now that Halloween is behind us...it's time to utilize this SMALL window I have before moving on to all the wonder and joy of Christmas.

I am still in search of a few good scrapbook products. In particular I am searching for scrapbook frames, scrapbook embellishments, scrapbook journaling ideas, and all in all just some great scrapbook materials or scrapbook supplies that are Disney and Halloween themed.

If I could find Disney Halloween Scrapbook Products - that would be perfect.

Yes, I can make many of my own with photoshop- and I guess if I am not reselling them - I would not be infringing too much on copyright laws....

But if there is a Scrapbook Store or better yet - a Scrapbook Supplies store that has these I would be much happier to avoid the legalities (let alone the time it will take) and purchase them myself.

So if you know of any Scrapbook Store where I might be able to find - Disney Halloween Themed Scrapbook Product or Scrapbook Materials Supplies - (especially some great Scrapbook Frames) please drop me a line and let me know.

I am on a mission here and I need your help!!!!

Disneyland was Magical!

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Just wanted to jump in real quick and let you all know that Disneyland really is the Happiest Place on Earth! There is just something about it that makes you want to just have fun...or better yet - refuse to be anything but happy.

My kids were superbly behaved...and as a result, hubby and I enjoyed every single moment of the trip. So much so that when we left - we were already planning the next trip back.

I have done two disney digital scrapbook images so far. And I do look forward to doing more...but time is a bit of a gonner for me as I bring in my birthday, the flu and my son's upcoming birthday.

Now it's time to start thinking HALLOWEEN again.

(My son's birthday party is always Halloween Themed).

There weren't a lot of Scrapbook Products at Disney. (Other than stickers and a few charms). I was quite disappointed. But that aside....I have to start collecting as much Jack Skellington decorations as possible as well - since my son has fallen in love with him since leaving the Tower of Terror (crazy ride by the way).

If you happen to know of any specialty stores where they would sell Jack Skellington party supplies, please let me know.

Ciao for now.

Disney Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:28:00 +0000

Oh my goodness! I am so excited.

I just booked (yesterday) the tickets, hotel and all the extra's for Disneyland! We leave Friday! But guess what...they are celebrating Halloween there now! Imagine that, being a part of the fantastical land of Disney during Halloween! How spooktacular is that!!!

I have not even been to Disneyland yet! And now I get to go for Halloween.

But here's why this is soooo much more enthralling for me: First, I am a scrapbooker - which makes Disneyland all the more exciting and adventurous, I love photography (I even purchased an amazing new digital camera before my Australia trip 2 weeks ago) and I love Halloween! (I even have a Halloween Games for Kids website - if you didn't already know that).

The funny thing is, because I travel so much for my profession - I didn't really feel the excitement of this trip until just now! We were talking about it and researching our options for a few weeks. But all the while I was sort of taking this backseat journey through the motions as if this were "just another trip"...

But NO! This is NOT just another trip! It's Scrapbooker, Photographer and Halloween Enthusiast heaven! I am totally freaking out all of a sudden.

If you have anything to share with me about your experiences in Disneyland...as a scrapbooker, a photographer or Halloween Enthusiast, please let me know. I want to be CERTAIN that I get to see everything I should while there. (We have the park hopper passes too - so we will be bouncing between Disneyland and California Adventure parks the whole time).

If you have ANYTHING to share...any tips on MUST SEE, MUST VISIT stuff while there...please let me know! I have less than 2 days before I get there now!

Regards...Cijaye.

Halloween Decorations - Patterned Blocks

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:52:00 +0000

Hey there...

I have just finished recording my very first podcast for this site!!!

It's about a Halloween Arts and Crafts Project for Halloween Decorations.

If you want to take a listen, learn something new and even let me know what you think...please do so. I am really anxious to know!

How to Make a Scrapbook

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:29:00 +0000

This question is asked in the groups, forums, QnA sites and such - quite often. The answers of course will vary from expert to expert...but overall...it breaks down into two parts:

The album itself. (You know the hard covers that hold the entire scrapbook together).
The scrapbook pages.

Realistically - that's all there is to it. However...scrapbooking is an art form and artists are not always realists. In fact - some of the best artists on the planet - became famous because of their ability to take the mind on a journey and transform reality within visual matter.

Your scrapbook would be the same.

So if you want to know how to make a scrapbook - you must first ask yourself - "what FORM would that take for me"?

Scrapbook albums can come in many shapes and sizes for example. They can be created from scratch, transformed from one object into a scrapbook or purchased as produced right from the shelves.

The best part is - you (as the artist) get to decide!

Once the FORM has been determined - your contents need to work within that form. If you have created a mini album from a CD holder for example - you must figure out how to make a scrapbook page that fits in the holder envelopes. Same goes for matchbook albums (which you create from scratch) and paper bag albums...

You have to work WITH the form.

Now...all of this is assuming that you are making a paper based scrapbook. But there are also digital scrapbook's and print on demand scrapbooks.

Both which can take on a life of their own as well....

But lets start with your form (scrapbook). What is it? What shape and size is it? Do you have an idea in mind that you wish to share and get feedback on?

Feel free to leave a comment and get others involved. This blog does get a decent amount of readers each day - as well as contributors. I am sure we would all be happy to share.

Happy scrapbooking to you!

Halloween Fun For Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:45:00 +0000

Halloween is "creeping" up fast.

If you have been to your local retailers lately you will have seen that annual Halloween Section arise. And even the local bookstores / newstands are starting to display the Collection of Halloween Titles or Special Edition Halloween Magazines.

You simply can not deny that Halloween has arrived.

So what are you going to do for Halloween this year? How are you going to have that Halloween Fun with the Kids?

Will you be playing traditional Halloween Games, making Halloween Crafts or perhaps even putting up the Halloween Decorations that only come out once a year?

Whatever it is you do...do make sure that the kids can participate. Halloween Crafts and Activities are a great way to ensure that this can happen.

Some of the more common crafts that you can do with your children are:

Searching for or brainstorming Halloween Costumes together
Making Halloween Costumes together
Making Halloween Decorations together (I love getting an OLD christmas tree and decorating it with Halloween lights...and Halloween ornaments made by the kids)
Making Halloween Cards together
Making Halloween Scrapbook pages together
Going on out-trips (to pumkin patches, haunted houses, decorated houses etc) to take photo's for their Halloween scrapbook pages
Playing Halloween Games together
or even Creating Halloween Games together
Making Halloween Treats / Deserts or Recipes together
Plus you can write Halloween stories together

Have fun with it.

P.S. Feel free to get more ideas here: http://halloweengamesforkids.blogspot.com or here: http://www.halloweengames4kids.com

Halloween Scrapbooking Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Me) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:58:00 +0000

I just came back from a long overdue shopping excursion to Michael's only to be caught off guard by all of the "spooky" sounds and goulish display of halloween stuff.

I couldn't believe that summer has barely ended - and yet Halloween is in full effect. Its not like I didn't expect it - it just made me wonder "where all the time had gone" to?

So....now that I have accepted that Halloween is just around the corner - I guess its time to get the planning started.

This year I intend to scrapbook more!

I created my tombstone scrapbook album covers last year - but still have all of the paper and supplies left to do the pages.

I even started gathering all of the photo's I wanted to throw in there - until I had realized that I didn't really have that many photo's after all.

I wanted to plan a "costume" night with the kids - and have them dress up in every costume they ever had so that I could take photo's with them in them...but then the time subsided.

Now, my son's birthday is close to Halloween so naturally every year I do create at least a Halloween themed party invitation and possibly even Halloween themed goody bags. But somehow along the way the idea of getting the kids attending the party in full costume gets shuffled aside in order to give them room to play like boys like to play (free of restriction).

But this year - I think I am going to go all out. I would love to build a haunted house and have a whole gang of kids in costume playing spooky games.

In fact I have a whole book of spooky halloween party games on my Halloween site - that the kids always play at school - but NEVER yet at the birthday party.

I can just imagine the great photo's I would get from such an event. And how great that Halloween Scrapbook would be.

Are you planning any Halloween Scrapbooking Activies this year? I would love some ideas if you have any....I want to go all out this year.